A woman in Florida was caught in a terrifying incident while she was fueling her car. According to police, a stranger approached her at a gas station in St. Petersburg and intentionally ignited gasoline with a lighter, resulting in a fiery explosion.
The victim, 41-year-old Christine Sherbuk, was at a Mobil gas station on Thursday evening when the attack happened. The alleged assailant, Eleanor Crawford, also 41, reportedly set fire to Sherbuk’s Volvo SUV around 8 p.m., which led to the vehicle catching fire and Sherbuk suffering second-degree burns to her arms and back.
Crawford was arrested shortly after the incident, about two blocks away, as police stated they received multiple witness accounts and had video evidence of the attack.
During the ordeal, Sherbuk was immediately taken to Tampa General Hospital due to the severity of her injuries. Fortunately, she was stabilized and is expected to recover.
Witness Scotty Gramling described seeing a “fireball” as he was parked nearby. He rushed to help Sherbuk, pulling her from the flames and calling 911. Oddly enough, he mentioned that just moments before the explosion, he had reported seeing Crawford involved in a disturbance across the street, where it looked like she was being pulled away from a fight.
Police were already on their way to address that situation when the fire incident occurred. After reviewing the events, they apprehended Crawford shortly thereafter. Investigators noted that Crawford and Sherbuk had no prior connection, adding a layer of confusion as no clear motive has been established for the attack.
Assistant Police Chief Mike Kovacsev expressed disbelief over the situation, questioning what could have driven Crawford to act in such a manner. He mentioned that, while it’s unclear if alcohol or drugs played a role, Crawford’s past might suggest some diminished capacity.
Crawford has a lengthy record related to substance abuse, but authorities have not confirmed if she was under the influence during this incident. Kovacsev reflected on how unusual this case is, especially given the severe nature of the burns involved.
Crawford has been charged with attempted felony murder and two counts of arson and is currently being held on a $350,000 bond. A judge has ordered her to wear a GPS monitor upon her release from jail. Meanwhile, the investigation is still ongoing.
