THE LOOP — A man lit himself on fire in the middle of a Loop street Monday night, Chicago Police said.
At 8:52 p.m. Monday, police were called to the 400 block of South Franklin Street after witnesses saw a man burning in the street, said Officer Ron Gaines, a Chicago Police spokesman. The incident is believed to be an attempted suicide, according to police.
The injured man was transported to Stroger Hospital in critical condition, Gaines said.
Stephanie Lulay spoke with a doorman who witnessed the scene:
Anthony Trent, a doorman at 235 W. Van Buren, a high-rise at the corner of Franklin and Van Buren, said he was helping a resident at about 9 p.m.. when he saw a fire in the middle of Franklin Street between a viaduct and Van Buren.
What he saw was "horrifying."
"I looked out [the window] and there was a man on fire," Trent said. "He was screaming at the top of his lungs, fully engulfed in flames."
Trent searched the lobby for a fire extinguisher but police quickly arrived on scene before he could help, he said.
Police found a gas can nearby, the doorman said.
No further information on the victim's condition was available late Monday night.
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