Crime & Safety
Athens Man with Pants on Fire Found Running from Burning Car
Police say the 19-year-old is a suspect in the incident.
An Athens man who was seen with his pants on fire running from a car set ablaze on Cone Drive is a suspect in the incident.
According to Athens-Clarke County Police, officers on patrol saw the vehicle “fully engulfed in flames,” in the 100 block of Cone Drive around 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 26.
The 19-year-old was carrying a gasoline can that was on fire as he ran from the vehicle. One of his pants legs was on fire.
“He threw the can down and fell to the ground, rolling around to extinguish the flames,” according to a police account.
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The man was taken to Athens Regional Medical Center. The car is owned by a resident on North Franklin Street.
“He is a suspect in this incident,” police said in a media alert.
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The Athens Banner-Herald reported the suspect, who had not been charged with any crimes as of Friday morning, told police he was driving in the area when he saw the car on fire. He said he got out to see if anyone was inside. What happened from there was not revealed.
The investigation continues.
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