( 4UMF NEWS ) SUV Explodes:
A 23-year-old man was in a critical condition in a hospital burn unit after his SUV exploded in flames, NBCConnecticut.com reported.
Witnesses who helped the man, Justin Hervey, described the horrific scene in Fairfield, Connecticut.
“We were just trying to tell him to stop, drop and roll a few times,” Peter Porrazzo said.
Porrazzo was part of a group of parents and coaches at a Little League game who witnessed the explosion and fire.
Hervey caught on fire while trying to escape from his burning Chevy Tahoe at the Tunxis Hill Park baseball field around 6:30 p.m. on Thursday near where Little Leaguers were playing ball, according to police.
A coach was finally able to grab Hervey and drag him to the ground.
“We were beating him with blankets, backpacks, whatever we could get. Eventually we were able to get him and he started to roll at the end, where he ended up landing and we were able to get the rest of the flames,” Porrazzo said.
Porrazzo even grabbed a case of Diet Pepsi and began to pour the soda on Hervey to douse the flames.
Hervey suffered burns to most of his body and was taken to the Bridgeport Hospital burn unit, where he is in critical condition.
