Police Investigating Car Explosion in Fairfield

[Editor's Note: Photo courtesy of Stephen Krauchick of DoingItLocal.com. Details of this report were updated Friday following an official press briefing.]

Update

Police identified the victim Friday as Justin Hervey, 23, of Armonk, N.Y. More details .

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One person was sent to the hospital with severe burns Thursday after the car he was in caught fire and became engulfed in flames.

The suspected explosion occurred as the vehicle, a dark-colored SUV, was parked near (225 Melville Avenue), where a youth baseball game was taking place, police spokesperson Lt. James Perez said.

Witnesses told police they heard a small pop and looked back to see the vehicle in flames.

One person, a male who police believe was between the ages of 18 and 22, ran out of the car engulged in flames toward the baseball game, Perez said. Police are still determining the man's identity.

Witnesses reportedly told the man to stop and drop to the ground to quell the flames, but he continued to run toward the park and was tackled to the ground, according to Perez.

Emergency responders arrived on scene and the man was transported to Bridgeport Hospital, where police said he remains in serious condition as of 8:20 p.m.

"This is a tragic end to the summer," Perez said. "We don't know how or why it happened, but officials are investigating."

Fairfield's fire marshal and members of the detective bureau remained on scene Thursday to sift the vehicle for evidence. The SUV had New York plates, according to Perez.

Perez encouraged parents and children at the baseball game who witnessed the scene to seek counseling through Fairfield's schools.