[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 .
***
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.
Cars don't normally "explode" while just driving along. They do however catch on fire.....BTDT! That was scarry!
Drugs ?????
That could explode.
Any one of those wires could short and catch fire creating this tragic outcome. No, it's better to speculate that he was on drugs or whatever you guys are talking about. Hitch yourself the the Crazy Jim Eastwood wagon. Let me know how that works out for you.
Uh..............no they don't. Engine fires are the most frequent cause for cars/trucks to go up in flames. Something very unusual had to happen for the interior of a car to catch on fire that quickly! Electrical, like you suggest, tend to smolder for quite a while. There is no "explosive" source of fuel in the interior like there is in the engine compartment. Let's say a lit cigarette butt fell between the seat cushions or on the carpet. That would smolder / smoke for a while because of the flame retardent qualities of the interior fabrics/plastics. The same would happen with an electrical fire. Certainly someone would see that smoke and have enough time to get out of the vehicle. Now, if the young lad had been carrying a freshly filled gas can or propane cylinder in the vehicle and didn't seal the container / tightly close the shut-off valve, fumes could have built up in the vehicle to an explosive level and all it would take is a spark from lighting a cigarette or even turning on the ignition (less likely, but still possible as the electronic systems in cars are not intrinsically safe) and KABOOM!! That is why I always drive with all of my windows down, regardless of the weather, when I bring home a freshly filled gas can or propane tank. We will just have to see what the investigators find. I hope Patch.com follows-up with an article with their findings.
Even if it was a leaking propane tank or a spilled container of gasoline, that's still not drugs like Jim Eastwood speculated.
You arfe correct in your statement !! And PI I never said it was drugs--But however that fire from the pictures is centered around the front seats on the passenger compartment. Fires do not "Explode" like that but like the Fairfield Redidentt points out, they are slow burning giving the driver plently of time to get ut. Have a Great Day !!!!!
"How about something More possible Drugs ?????" Are YOU on drugs?
But I do tend to agree with Jim Eastwood and Fairfield Resident. Cars do not “explode” without a volatile source, ignition, and oxygen. Engine fires, dropped cigarettes, etc. tend to build slowly. Perhaps there was an unknown gas leak, a faulty battery¸ propane or lawnmower fuel in the vehicle, etc.? We can speculate all we like, but I’m sure the FFD will publish its findings once their investigation is complete.
When the user kathleen spoke out against people speculating that the cause of this was something illegal, that's when users acted like she and I believe it was spontaneous combustion. No. We just believe that you shouldn't accuse the kid of being on drugs or manufacturing meth while he lies dying in the hospital. Somehow the brain dead commentators on the Patch have turned that into thinking mystical forces were at play. It's sad how the editor of the Patch has allowed the stupid and insane to take over this site. This site isn't that old but there was a time when you could have a decent conversation with people. Those days are over.
How about this? And this might be too logical for your conspiracies but maybe, JUST MAYBE, he realized there was something wrong with his car so he pulled off to have a look? If I was looking to "light up drugs", the last place I would pick would be a pretty open park where there is a youth baseball game going on 50 feet away.
Wishing everyone a speedy recovery.
Who is this "PJ" you speak of? Also, you state: ".........and this is not the forum to spout off your theories." Please explain why not. I thought forums like these were made to ENCOURAGE public discourse on matters and issues both inside and outside our quaint little Town of Fairfield. Another interesting statement you made: "If you would like to say something, make it well wishes towards his recovery, or for the kids who witnessed this to not have nightmares, or for the hero who tackled a burning stranger to help him and potentially protect the kids." That sounds like CENSORSHIP to me. BTW......I came across some new info about a "theory" as to what may have happened: The "Shake and Bake Method" http://alcoholism.about.com/od/meth/a/shake_and_bake.htm "The new method requires little room. All of the necessary items can be carried in a backpack, making the process mobile. Drug users are making meth while driving around in their cars and throwing the used plastic bottles, containing a poisonous brown and white sludge, along the highway." "But the shake and bake method is extremely dangerous. If the bottle is shaken the wrong way, of if any oxygen gets inside of it, or if the cap is loosened too quickly, the bottle can exploded into a giant fireball." Very Interesting.
Happy New Year And what ever was the end result of this ?? Is the Kid still alive How come this got pushed Under the Rug ??