A 26-year-old woman is in critical condition after a man set her on fire in the middle of an argument on a Chicago transit train Monday night.
The incident took place just before 9:30 p.m. on the downtown loop of the Chicago Transit Authority’s blue line, WBBM reported.
A person of interest is in custody, police said, but so far no charges have been filed.
Witnesses said the woman was arguing with the man, said to be about 45, as the train arrived at the Clark/Lake subway station. The man poured a liquid on the woman and set it afire.
He ran from the scene while the woman also ran off the train, engulfed in flames, and collapsed.
Bystanders came to her aid, and the fire was extinguished by the time first responders arrived. She was taken to Stroger Hospital with severe burns to her head and face, WGN reported.
“This woman was saved by a number of good Samaritans on the train with her,” Alderman Brendan Reilly said.
Police said the man in custody may be connected to a fire outside City Hall last week, WBBM said.
No further information about the incident was released, but police told WMAQ the investigation “remains ongoing.”
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[Featured image: Clark/Lake subway station/Google Maps]