mongo
10-31-2008, 01:05 PM
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008333228_burningdeath31m0.html
A former University of Washington staff member died Thursday after dousing himself with gasoline and setting himself on fire in Red Square.
The 61-year-old man, who was not named by officials pending notification of his next of kin, was a recent employee, according to UW assistant police Chief Ralph Robinson.
UW spokesman Norm Arkans said the man separated from the university over the summer, but declined to elaborate on the circumstances.
"We don't know why he did this," said Robinson. "There were no protests or demonstrations going on, so we don't think it was political. He wasn't in a fight as far as we know. We just don't know what drove him."
Student Stan Luong, 21, a senior, said he was walking across Red Square toward the Odegaard undergraduate library at about 1 p.m. when he heard a splashing sound. He looked around and saw a man pouring gasoline over himself from a large, red tank, which he held directly above his head.
The man then tried to light a match, Luong said. Another student rushed over, yelling something like "No! Stop!" and tried to knock the matches out of the man's hands. But after fumbling for a moment, the man managed to light a match.
"There was a pond of gasoline around him, and he was standing in a lake of fire," Luong said. "No one could help him; there was so much fire."
The man eventually dropped to the ground, moaning. The student who had attempted to knock away the matches stripped to his boxers and tried to beat down the fire with his clothes, Luong said.
Luong said he took off his own jacket and tried to help. Soon after, others ran out from a building with fire extinguishers.
The student who'd taken off his clothes then dropped to his knees and prayed.
The man was taken to Harborview Medical Center with second- and third-degree burns over 80 percent of his body, Robinson said. He later died.
Red Square, or Central Plaza, was evacuated and closed, but police said the campus was otherwise safe and classes continued as normal.
UW police Officer Anthony Stewart said he talked with the panicked man — trying to calm him down — before medics arrived.
A lab apron and goggles were on the ground near where the burned man had been.
this is kind of weird shit. i was in our chem building (bagley) that is part of our quad (red square). we heard screams but didn't really go to see what had happened until this fucking rank stench wafted through the window.
A former University of Washington staff member died Thursday after dousing himself with gasoline and setting himself on fire in Red Square.
The 61-year-old man, who was not named by officials pending notification of his next of kin, was a recent employee, according to UW assistant police Chief Ralph Robinson.
UW spokesman Norm Arkans said the man separated from the university over the summer, but declined to elaborate on the circumstances.
"We don't know why he did this," said Robinson. "There were no protests or demonstrations going on, so we don't think it was political. He wasn't in a fight as far as we know. We just don't know what drove him."
Student Stan Luong, 21, a senior, said he was walking across Red Square toward the Odegaard undergraduate library at about 1 p.m. when he heard a splashing sound. He looked around and saw a man pouring gasoline over himself from a large, red tank, which he held directly above his head.
The man then tried to light a match, Luong said. Another student rushed over, yelling something like "No! Stop!" and tried to knock the matches out of the man's hands. But after fumbling for a moment, the man managed to light a match.
"There was a pond of gasoline around him, and he was standing in a lake of fire," Luong said. "No one could help him; there was so much fire."
The man eventually dropped to the ground, moaning. The student who had attempted to knock away the matches stripped to his boxers and tried to beat down the fire with his clothes, Luong said.
Luong said he took off his own jacket and tried to help. Soon after, others ran out from a building with fire extinguishers.
The student who'd taken off his clothes then dropped to his knees and prayed.
The man was taken to Harborview Medical Center with second- and third-degree burns over 80 percent of his body, Robinson said. He later died.
Red Square, or Central Plaza, was evacuated and closed, but police said the campus was otherwise safe and classes continued as normal.
UW police Officer Anthony Stewart said he talked with the panicked man — trying to calm him down — before medics arrived.
A lab apron and goggles were on the ground near where the burned man had been.
this is kind of weird shit. i was in our chem building (bagley) that is part of our quad (red square). we heard screams but didn't really go to see what had happened until this fucking rank stench wafted through the window.