WASHINGTON — A man is dead after investigators say he lit himself on fire at a Fairfax County gas station Monday afternoon.
Police say a man set fire to himself around 3 p.m. at the Sunoco gas station on Centreville Road in Herndon, Virginia. The 50-year-old man purchased about 50 cents worth of gas, poured it on himself and lit himself on fire behind the gas station, police say.
He was away from the gas station’s pumps, says Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Battalion Chief Willie Bailey.
“Citizens at the gas station located some water bottles and they poured water on top of the male, which extinguished the fire,” Bailey said.
Emergency crews flew the man, whose name has not yet been released, to a hospital where he was pronounced dead upon arrival.
It is not yet known why the man lit himself on fire.
Police are investigating the incident and have not released any additional details.
WTOP’s Michelle Basch contributed to this report.
