A man aged 55 caught fire at a subway station shortly after he leaped off a train. The individual sustained serious burns to his legs, evident from burnt skin discovered on a train seat. Reports suggest the man, reportedly homeless, stated that someone ignited his trousers. Additionally, burnt paper was located on the train.
CCTV footage revealed the man ablaze as the train arrived at New York’s Times Square early on Monday morning. The video depicted him collapsing on the platform after disembarking from a northbound train around 3 am.
Following the incident, the man received medical attention and is anticipated to recover. Medical professionals at Weill Cornell Medical Center treated his leg burns.
Subsequent to the man being hospitalized, law enforcement initiated an inquiry. Authorities disclosed that the man altered his initial recount of the events and has become uncooperative.
The police affirmed that they are actively investigating the occurrence, with no arrests made thus far.
Individuals possessing information pertaining to the case are urged to contact the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), or 1-888-57-PISTA (74782) for Spanish speakers. All information remains confidential, and tips can also be submitted through their website.
Notably, previous incidents on the New York subway have involved individuals being engulfed in flames. In a recent case from December, Debrina Kawam, 57, from New Jersey, was identified as the victim of a seemingly random attack resulting in severe burns.
Sebastian Zapeta, 33, faced charges of murder and arson in connection to the incident, citing intoxication as a factor leading to memory loss.
Furthermore, in March, a 45-year-old man was set on fire in Times Square, requiring immediate medical attention. His attacker reportedly fled the scene, leaving authorities uncertain if the attack was targeted or random.
Lastly, in Chicago last month, a woman was set on fire aboard a Chicago Transit Authority train after engaging in a verbal dispute with a man, as reported by the police department.
