Boy Sets Self on Fire in Alleged Gas Theft

GILLETTE, Wyo. – A teenage boy accidentally set himself on fire early Wednesday morning after allegedly trying to siphon gas from a firefighter’s car.

Police first learned of the injury after a 17-year-old boy and a 16-year-old boy claimed that someone had thrown gasoline on the 17-year-old at the Common Cents service station and lit him on fire, said Lt. Rod Hauge.

The boy was taken to the hospital with second- and third-degree burns on his legs. Police were called to the hospital to investigate the incident and later learned that the 17-year-old spilled gas on his pants while siphoning gas. He then used a lighter to try to determine how wet his pants were and set himself of fire, Hague said.

Both boys have been ticketed with larceny, Hauge said.

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Information from: News-Record, http://www.gillettenewsrecord.com