Boston Biker Catches Fire After Crash As Bystanders Struggle To Help
It took almost 90 seconds before some put out the fire with an extinguisher
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by Brad Anderson
Motorcyclist caught fire after crashing on Boston highway, leaving bystanders horrified.
Witnesses attempted to help with blankets but failed to smother the flames effectively.
It took nearly two minutes before someone brought a fire extinguisher to the scene.
Riding a motorcycle comes with its fair share of risks, but most riders accept that. But here’s one danger that doesn’t usually top the list: catching fire after a crash. That’s exactly what happened to a motorcyclist in Boston, Massachusetts, earlier this week, and much of the incident was caught on camera. If you’re sensitive to graphic content, this is probably where you look away.
The details that led up to the terrifying incident are unclear, but it appears as though the biker crashed and their motorbike caught fire. Unfortunately, they were also set alight and quickly engulfed in flames. What happens next is a perfect demonstration of what not to do if you’re on fire, or if you see someone on fire and are trying to help.
Watch: Motorcyclist Goes Flying After Misjudging Overtake, Narrowly Misses Cyclists
Initially, the rider can be seen stumbling around near a car while one witness hopelessly flicks a blanket at him. After 17 seconds, the rider decides to stop, drop, and roll, but only does so for a couple of seconds, not long enough to extinguish the flames. Meanwhile, one woman tries to throw a blanket on him as he rolls, but completely misses him.
The biker then runs to the side of the highway, still engulfed in flames. He drops to the ground and rolls again, but it’s not enough to extinguish the fire. Several witnesses approach with blankets, yet no one actually uses them to cover the flames, something that might have helped. It isn’t until nearly two minutes s later that someone arrives with a fire extinguisher and finally puts out the fire.
According to a Reddit user who posted the horryfing footage, the rider was airlifted to a hospital shortly after the fire was extinguished. Reports suggest he sustained second- and third-degree burns over more than 60 percent of his body.
Some commenters have speculated that the rider’s clothing may have been soaked in fuel or oil from the crash, which could explain why the fire was so persistent and difficult to put out.
Warning: Some readers may find the video below disturbing.
