A Florida driver was caught in a sudden fire at a gas station after a stranger allegedly used a lighter to ignite fuel near her vehicle in what investigators described as an apparently random assault.
According to police and an arrest affidavit, 41-year-old Christine Sherbuk was fueling her Volvo SUV at a Mobil station in St. Petersburg on Thursday evening when Eleanor Crawford reportedly walked over to her.
Authorities allege Crawford set the gasoline alight around 8 p.m. The resulting blaze engulfed the SUV and left Sherbuk with second-degree burns on her arms and back.
Police said Eleanor Crawford allegedly set gasoline on fire while a woman was fueling her SUV at a St. Petersburg Mobil station, seriously injuring the victim. (St. Petersburg Police Department)
Sherbuk was taken to Tampa General Hospital’s trauma center in serious condition. Medical staff stabilized her, and police said she is expected to recover.
Scotty Gramling told Fox 13 Tampa Bay that he was parked close to the station when the flames erupted. He immediately ran toward the scene to help Sherbuk.
A woman sustained second-degree burns after a stranger allegedly ignited gasoline while she was pumping fuel at this St. Petersburg Mobil station, police said. (Fox 13 Tampa Bay)
Gramling helped the injured woman into his truck before calling 911. He said the attack produced an enormous “fireball” that quickly consumed the vehicle.
Shortly before the fire, Gramling said he had contacted police’s non-emergency line after noticing Crawford in an apparent confrontation across the street. He told the station that someone seemed to be attempting to remove her from the roadway before the situation escalated into a fight.
Officers were reportedly on their way to investigate that earlier disturbance when the alleged gas station attack occurred.
Police located Crawford several blocks away roughly 20 minutes later. The arrest affidavit states that several witnesses identified her as the person who ignited the gasoline, and surveillance or other video footage also recorded the incident.
St. Petersburg police took Eleanor Crawford into custody after a woman was badly burned in an alleged attack involving gasoline at a local station. (St. Petersburg Police Department)
Crawford and Sherbuk did not know each other, investigators said. Authorities have not identified a motive.
“I don’t know if alcohol and drugs were involved, but indicative of her history, there might’ve been something that diminished capacity there,” Assistant Police Chief Mike Kovacsev told Fox 13. “Why would she even do something like this?”
Police said Crawford has an extensive record that includes several drug- and alcohol-related charges. Authorities have not said whether she was under the influence at the time of the alleged attack.
“It’s kind of a unique case because you don’t see anything like this, especially something that results in such horrific burns,” Kovacsev said. “But they went out there, they worked with the fire department, and luckily they were able to get her stabilized, and she’s going to make it.”
Police units respond to the scene of an emergency. (Getty Images)
Crawford has been charged with attempted felony murder and two counts of arson. She is being held on $350,000 bond while awaiting trial.
A judge ordered her to be fitted with a GPS monitor by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office before her release from jail, court records show.
The case remains under investigation.
