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Woman’s lighter sparks blaze at gas station

A 19-year-old woman caught fire after she was fiddling with a cigarette lighter as she pumped gas in New Mexico, authorities said.
/ Source: The Associated Press

A 19-year-old woman caught fire after she was fiddling with a cigarette lighter as she pumped gas, authorities said.

Brianna Sanchez was at a Sun Dial gas station with her boyfriend Friday night when the incident occurred, said Sgt. Jackie Budd, a spokesman with the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office.

Budd called the incident a “freak accident” and said there was no reason to believe otherwise.

He said witnesses reported the woman was casually pumping gas and that she had a lighter in her hand. That’s when flames shot out of the gas tank.

The woman and the immediate area caught fire. A person at the scene put out the blaze with a fire extinguisher.

Sanchez was taken to San Juan Regional Medical Center with burns to her face and upper torso. Budd didn’t know the extent of her injuries.