Woman Burned After Gasoline Ignited at St. Petersburg Gas Station: Police

A woman faces arson charges after deliberately igniting gasoline while the victim was pumping gas, St. Pete police said.

By Tiffany Razzano, Patch Staff

Sep 11, 2026 11:59 AM EDT

A woman faces arson charges after deliberately igniting gasoline while the victim was pumping gas, St. Pete police said. (Courtesy of St. Petersburg Police Department)

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — A 41-year-old woman was seriously injured Thursday night after a woman deliberately ignited gasoline while the victim was pumping gas at a St. Petersburg gas station, authorities said.

The arson happened around 8 p.m. at the Mobil gas station at 101 40th Ave. N., St. Petersburg police said.

Eleanor Crawford, 41, approached the victim as she was pumping gasoline into her Volvo SUV and deliberately ignited the gasoline with a lighter, investigators said.

The victim's vehicle was engulfed in flames, and the woman suffered second-degree burns. She was transported to Tampa General Hospital for treatment.

Officers arrested Crawford a short time later, just a couple of blocks from the gas station, police said. She faces two arson charges.

Police said Crawford and the victim didn't know each other. The motive remains unclear as the investigation continues.