Davagator
08-18-2004, 01:03 PM
HIALEAH GARDENS, Fla. - A man who authorities suspect was stealing gas suffered severe burns when a 300-gallon tank installed under the seats of his van exploded.
The man was apparently using a stolen credit card to buy the gas when the tank exploded, catching him on fire, police said.
He ran from the gas station, but about 20 minutes after the blast relatives of a badly burned Sweetwater man called for help, authorities said. The burn victim, whose name was not released, was airlifted Tuesday to Ryder Trauma Center. He has not been arrested.
The intense fire consumed the gas pump island but did not spread to underground storage tanks.
"Firefighters have seen this type of operation before," said Luis Fernandez, spokesman for Miami-Dade County fire rescue. "What they do is steal a credit card, fill the gas tank up and sell the gas at reduced prices in different communities. This is a very dangerous operation."
:shock: Dumbass!
The man was apparently using a stolen credit card to buy the gas when the tank exploded, catching him on fire, police said.
He ran from the gas station, but about 20 minutes after the blast relatives of a badly burned Sweetwater man called for help, authorities said. The burn victim, whose name was not released, was airlifted Tuesday to Ryder Trauma Center. He has not been arrested.
The intense fire consumed the gas pump island but did not spread to underground storage tanks.
"Firefighters have seen this type of operation before," said Luis Fernandez, spokesman for Miami-Dade County fire rescue. "What they do is steal a credit card, fill the gas tank up and sell the gas at reduced prices in different communities. This is a very dangerous operation."
:shock: Dumbass!