Police arrested a 41-year-old woman nearby after gasoline was deliberately ignited as the victim fueled her SUV.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A woman pumping gasoline at a St. Petersburg station suffered serious second-degree burns after police say a stranger deliberately ignited the fuel, setting the victim and her vehicle on fire Thursday night.
The attack happened about 8 p.m. Sept. 10 at a Mobil station at 101 40th Ave. N., according to the St. Petersburg Police Department. Investigators identified the suspect as 41-year-old Eleanor Crawford. Police said Crawford and the 41-year-old victim did not know each other before the encounter.
The victim was filling a Volvo SUV when Crawford approached her, according to police and local reports citing investigators. Some reporting said the victim allowed Crawford to use her phone before Crawford asked her for money. Police allege Crawford then used a lighter to ignite gasoline at the pump after the interaction.
The flames spread to the SUV, which became engulfed in fire. The victim suffered second-degree burns and was taken to Tampa General Hospital for treatment. Police described her injuries as serious. One local report citing an assistant police chief said she was expected to survive, although authorities had not released a detailed public update on her recovery as of Saturday.
Officers searched the surrounding area after the fire and located Crawford a few blocks from the gas station, police said. She was taken into custody shortly after the incident. Local reporting citing Pinellas County jail records said she faces attempted felony murder and arson charges. Other reports described the charges more generally as attempted murder and arson.
The allegations remain accusations, and the filing of criminal charges does not establish guilt. Authorities have not announced a finding explaining why the victim was targeted, and investigators have emphasized that the two women had no known prior relationship.
That lack of a known connection has left one of the central questions in the case unresolved. Police have said they are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the encounter and have not publicly identified a motive. Authorities also have not released the victim’s name in the reports reviewed for this story.
The case centers on what police describe as a brief encounter that rapidly turned into a serious fire at an active fuel pump. Investigators have not announced whether additional charges will be sought or released further details about evidence collected at the station.
Crawford remained accused in connection with the attack as the investigation continued. Police had not publicly announced a motive or a new medical update on the victim by Sept. 12.
Author note: Last updated September 12, 2026.