A Florida woman suffered serious injuries after a stranger allegedly ignited gasoline as she pumped gas, creating a fireball. The incident occurred at a Mobil gas station in St. Petersburg, where the victim, Christine Sherbuk, was fueling her Volvo SUV.
The 41-year-old suspect, Eleanor Crawford, approached Sherbuk and allegedly lit the fuel with a lighter, setting the vehicle ablaze. Sherbuk sustained second-degree burns on her arms and back and was rushed to Tampa General Hospital in serious condition. Medical teams have stabilized her condition, and she is expected to recover.
Witness Scotty Gramling, present at the scene, sprang into action to assist Sherbuk. He helped her into his truck and called 911. Gramling described the occurrence as a ‘fireball.’ Moments earlier, he had alerted the police about Crawford being involved in an altercation nearby.
Police were already en route to this disturbance when the gas station incident unfolded. Officers apprehended Crawford just blocks away within about 20 minutes of the attack. Witnesses and video footage supported the arrest.
Crawford and Sherbuk were strangers, and the motive for the alleged attack remains unclear. Assistant Police Chief Mike Kovacsev noted Crawford’s extensive history of drug and alcohol-related offenses. He mentioned that these factors might have impaired her judgment during the incident.
Crawford faces charges of attempted felony murder and two counts of arson. She remains in custody on a $350,000 bond, awaiting trial. A judge mandated a GPS monitor attachment by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office before any potential release.
The investigation continues, as authorities work to gather further insights into what led to such a violent confrontation at the gas station.