Las Cruces fire investigators are asking for help in determining what caused a vehicle fire that critically injured a 39-year-old man early Sunday morning.
About 3:30 a.m. on Sunday, July 31, a Las Cruces Fire Department crew was dispatched to the report of a pickup on fire in the parking lot of Memorial Medical Center. The vehicle fire was quickly extinguished by firefighters.
Fire investigators learned the driver of the pickup, a 39-year-old man, parked the vehicle and was on fire when he ran into the hospital’s emergency room. Witnesses and hospital staff extinguished the flames on the man’s body and began caring for the victim. The victim was subsequently airlifted to a specialty burn center in Lubbock, Texas, for advanced care. He remains there in critical condition.
The man’s vehicle is a gold or tan 2006 Chevrolet Silverado regular cab pickup. Investigators have released a stock photo of a similar pickup. Fire investigators believe the victim has several acquaintances in Las Cruces and Albuquerque and may have been in contact with them up until the time of the fire.
Anyone who may have had contact with the victim or has knowledge of the fire is asked to call Las Cruces Fire Department investigators at (575) 526-0795.