An arsonist accidentally set himself on fire while setting a car ablaze. He was caught on camera fleeing the scene in flames, and the police have launched a manhunt for the suspect. The incident occurred on Tuesday in Corona.
A Ring camera captured the fiery blunder that unfolded on the 900 block of Wakefield Avenue in Riverside County, according to KTLA. The vehicle was parked in front of a house in an enclosed yard, and the arsonist apparently had to jump the fence to get in.
The video shows the vehicle going up in flames when the man, who can barely be seen, torches it. However, things did not go as planned because the fire quickly engulfed him. With his clothes burning, the man leaps over the fence and races down the street.
When the police arrived at the scene, the vehicle was still blazing in the yard. The Corona Fire Department released a statement on Instagram, sharing that the police responded to a vehicle fire report early in the morning. The vehicle was destroyed in the fire, and the property was moderately damaged from the flames.
The suspect fled the area in what is believed to be a “newer pickup truck, possibly a Chevrolet or GMC,” per the statement. The suspect’s vehicle has tinted windows and light-coloured rims. The Corona Fire Department described the suspect as a Caucasian or Hispanic male in his 30s. He is between 5 feet 9 inches and 6 feet 1 inch in height with a medium build and light-coloured hair reaching his shoulder, per the report.
The Corona Fire Department and Corona Police Department are searching for the arsonist. They have requested the public’s assistance in locating the suspect, urging locals to share any information they have, as it could be vital. The authorities emphasised that they are accepting information and any footage relating to the case.
“The department is requesting that anyone with information or video please contact Corona Fire Investigator Travis Boan by either email at [email protected] or by phone at 951-736-2219,” the post concluded.
