Police say 41-year-old Christine Sherbuk suffered second-degree burns after a stranger allegedly ignited gasoline while she pumped gas at a Mobil station in St. Petersburg around 8 p.m. The blaze engulfed her SUV and bystanders rushed to help. Sherbuk was taken to Tampa General Hospital, stabilized and is expected to survive. Authorities arrested 41-year-old Eleanor Crawford about 20 minutes later; she faces attempted felony murder and two counts of arson and is being held on $350,000 bond.
St. Petersburg Gas-Station Attack: Woman Allegedly Set On Fire While Pumping Gas
Booking photo of Eleanor Crawford for Florida gas station fire attack
A 41-year-old woman was allegedly set on fire while pumping gas at a Mobil station in St. Petersburg, Florida, police say. The victim, identified in court records as Christine Sherbuk, suffered second-degree burns to her arms and back after a stranger reportedly ignited gasoline on her vehicle.
Eleanor Crawford allegedly ignited gasoline while a woman fueled her SUV at a St. Petersburg Mobil station, leaving the victim seriously burned, police said.
What Happened
According to an arrest affidavit and police statements, the incident occurred at about 8 p.m. when 41-year-old Eleanor Crawford approached Sherbuk's Volvo SUV and — witnesses allege — deliberately ignited gasoline with a lighter, producing a sudden fireball that engulfed the vehicle.
Police said a woman suffered second-degree burns after a stranger allegedly ignited gasoline as she fueled her SUV at this St. Petersburg Mobil station.
Response and Victim Condition
Bystander Scotty Gramling told Fox 13 Tampa Bay he rushed to help, lifted the injured woman into his truck and called 911. Sherbuk was transported to the trauma center at Tampa General Hospital in serious condition; hospital officials said she was stabilized and is expected to survive.
St. Petersburg police arrested Eleanor Crawford shortly after a woman was seriously burned in an alleged gas station arson attack.
Arrest and Charges
Police located Crawford a few blocks away roughly 20 minutes after the attack. The arrest affidavit states that multiple witnesses observed her ignite the gasoline and that surveillance video captured the incident. Crawford has been charged with attempted felony murder and two counts of arson and is being held on $350,000 bond. A judge ordered that she be fitted with a GPS monitor by the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office before any potential release.
Police units respond to the scene of an emergency.
Investigation
Investigators say Crawford and Sherbuk did not know each other, and authorities have not identified a motive. Assistant Police Chief Mike Kovacsev noted Crawford's record includes drug- and alcohol-related charges, but officials have not confirmed whether intoxication played a role. The case remains under investigation.
"It's a unique and disturbing case," Kovacsev told reporters, adding that first responders and firefighters were able to stabilize the victim and get her to the hospital.
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