A woman was taken to Tampa General Hospital with second-degree burns after police say a stranger ignited gasoline while she was pumping it at a Mobil station in St. Petersburg. The incident happened around 8 p.m. on Sept. 10 in the 100 block of 40th Avenue North, according to the St. Petersburg Police Department. Investigators say 41-year-old Eleanor Crawford walked up to the victim and used a lighter to set the gasoline ablaze, engulfing the victim’s Volvo SUV in flames.
Crawford was arrested a couple of blocks from the scene and now faces two arson charges. Police have not released a possible motive, and they have not said whether the two women knew each other. The victim’s condition was still unavailable as of Friday morning.
For anyone who lives or works along the 40th Avenue North corridor, this one lands close to home. It happened at an hour when plenty of us are out running errands, and it took place at a spot most of us pass without a second thought. If you saw anything suspicious in that area Wednesday night, St. Petersburg police want to hear from you. And while this kind of attack is rare, it’s a reminder to stay aware of your surroundings, especially after dark. What are your thoughts on gas station safety here in St. Pete? We’d like to hear from you.
