A woman pumping gas at a St. Petersburg Mobil station was seriously burned Thursday night after St. Petersburg Police say a stranger walked up and deliberately ignited gasoline with a lighter.
The 41-year-old victim was filling her Volvo SUV at 101 40th Avenue North around 8 p.m. Sept. 10 when 41-year-old Eleanor Crawford approached her. The resulting fire engulfed the SUV and seriously burned the woman.
The victim was taken to Tampa General Hospital. Officers found Crawford a couple of blocks away and arrested her shortly after the fire.
Police said Crawford and the victim did not know each other. Investigators have not identified a motive.
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Before the fire, Crawford asked to use the woman’s phone.
The woman let her, according to FOX 13. Crawford then asked for money. When the woman refused, Crawford allegedly used a lighter to ignite gasoline at the nozzle.
Scotty Gramling was parked nearby and had already called the police non-emergency line after seeing Crawford involved in an altercation across the street. He told FOX 13 that police were already responding when the fire broke out.
When the flames erupted, Gramling ran over, helped the injured woman into his truck and called 911. He described what he saw as a “fireball.”
The victim suffered second-degree burns to her arms and back. Assistant Police Chief Mike Kovacsev said she was expected to survive but would likely face a long recovery.
The current Pinellas County jail record lists Crawford on attempted felony murder and arson charges. Bond is set at a combined $350,000.
The same records show Gulfport Police arrested Crawford July 21 on charges of battery on a law-enforcement officer and resisting an officer without violence. She was released Aug. 27 on supervised release on recognizance.
All parties are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.