Boat Explosion Leaves Father, Son Severely Burned In Woodbridge

WOODBRIDGE, VA—On July 5, a father and his son were cleaning the family boat in their Woodbridge driveway and in the process of gassing it up for some holiday fun on the water. That's when things went horribly awry for the father, Carlos Cruz, and his son, Rafael.

Namely, a gasoline explosion left them both hospitalized with severe burns at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. Rafael, 16, has third-degree burns on 40 percent of his body, and Carlos has third- and second-degree burns on 22 percent of his body.

Two Alexandria families have established a GoFundMe page "to assist this family with the astronomical costs associated with this accident and to ensure that all four family members can focus on the recovery. Nearly $20,000 has been raised by 85+ people in just three days!"

Photo courtesy of family friend Steven Elipoulos