A man aged 55 caught fire at a subway station shortly after he leaped off a train. The man sustained serious burns on his legs, with charred skin discovered on a train seat. Reports suggested he was homeless and claimed that an unidentified person ignited his pants. Burnt paper was also found on the train.
Surveillance footage revealed the man ablaze as the train arrived at New York’s Times Square early on Monday morning. He collapsed on the platform after exiting a northbound train around 3 am. The man was hospitalized and is anticipated to recover. Medical professionals at Weill Cornell Medical Center treated his leg burns.
Following his hospitalization, the man’s account of the incident shifted, and he became uncooperative, prompting a police investigation. Authorities are still examining the matter, with no arrests made yet.
Those with information 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. Callers remain anonymous, and tips can also be submitted through their website.
Recent incidents in the New York subway involving individuals catching fire have been reported. In a previous case, Debrina Kawam, 57, from New Jersey, was a victim of an apparent random attack that left her severely burned. Sebastian Zapeta, 33, faced charges of murder and arson in connection with the incident.
In another incident, a 45-year-old man was set alight in Times Square. Video footage showed him shirtless and badly burned before being rushed to the hospital. The attacker reportedly fled, and it remains unclear if the attack was targeted.
In a separate case in Chicago, a woman was ignited on a Chicago Transit Authority train following a verbal altercation with a man, as stated by the police department.