By Molly Farmer
The Deseret News
AMERICAN FORK, Utah — A Utah County man was burned on more than 50 percent of his body after a barbecue accident Saturday afternoon.
Utah County Sheriff’s deputies and firefighters responded to the American Fork blaze around 2:30 p.m., said Utah County Sheriff Sgt. Greg Ludlow.
The 26-year-old man had poured gasoline on coals smoldering in a barbecue and fire spread up the spout and into the gas can. Marcus Cramer was nearby and heard the explosion.
“It was like a bomb, a homemade bomb went off,” he said. “I saw a man on fire.”
The man was taken by ambulance to an area hospital. Another person who was nearby suffered minor burns as well. Mallery Erlick was one of the first people to give the injured men aid.
“I ran as fast as I could over to him,” she said. “He was on fire so we immediately told him to drop and roll. ... We called 911.”
Erlick said she knows the victim personally, and hopes the community will rally around the family. “If anybody can help, that would be great. They’re going to be going through a really hard time the next couple months — especially with Christmas around the corner.” Police have not released the victim’s name.
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