ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WKRC) — A Florida woman is charged with attempted murder and arson after she reportedly set another woman on fire at a gas station.
St. Petersburg Police said 41-year-old Eleanor Crawford approached the victim at a Mobil gas station on Thursday and intentionally used a lighter to ignite the gas nozzle, engulfing the victim’s car with flames and seriously injuring the victim.
A witness told FOX 13 that they saw a fireball after Crawford reportedly ignited the gas nozzle. He then helped the victim into his truck and called 911. The victim was taken to a hospital in Tampa for treatment of second-degree burns and is expected to survive.
“It’s kind of a unique case, because you don’t see anything like this — especially something that results in such horrific burns,” said Assistant Police Chief Kovacsev.
Police say the suspect and victim did not know each other, and the motive for the attack remains unclear. However, according to reporting from FOX 13, Crawford initially approached the victim and asked to use her phone, which the victim allowed her to borrow. Crawford then asked the victim for money, which she refused to give Crawford. That’s when Crawford allegedly set the gas nozzle on fire.
Crawford is being held on a $350,000 bond in the Pinellas County jail.