SHE ONLY STOPPED FOR GAS — THEN A STRANGER ALLEGEDLY SET HER ON FIRE

A Florida woman was hospitalized with serious burns after police say a stranger approached her at a gas station, asked for money, and then ignited gasoline with a lighter.

A routine stop at a Florida gas station suddenly turned into a terrifying ordeal when a woman was allegedly set on fire by a complete stranger.

The incident happened around 8 p.m. on September 10 at a Mobil station in St. Petersburg, Florida, according to police. The 41-year-old victim was pumping gasoline into her Volvo SUV when another woman approached her.

The suspect was identified as Eleanor Crawford, 41.

SHE ASKED TO BORROW A PHONE — THEN ASKED FOR MONEY

According to police, Crawford initially approached the victim and asked if she could borrow her phone.

The interaction then took an alarming turn.

Authorities say Crawford asked the woman for money. When the victim refused, Crawford allegedly used a lighter to ignite gasoline at the pump.

The flames quickly spread, engulfing the vehicle and seriously injuring the woman.

Police said the victim suffered second-degree burns to her arms and back and was rushed to Tampa General Hospital.

She is expected to survive, although she faces a difficult recovery.

A STRANGER WHO HAD NO CONNECTION TO HER

Perhaps one of the most unsettling details in the investigation is that Crawford and the victim apparently did not know each other.

Police have said there was no prior relationship between the two women, and investigators have not established a clear motive.

A witness, identified in reports as Scotty Gamling, rushed to help after seeing what was happening and contacted emergency services.

Authorities were able to locate Crawford only a short distance from the gas station and take her into custody.

CHARGES FILED

Crawford is facing charges including attempted felony murder and arson, according to court records and local reporting.

She was being held on $350,000 bond as the case moved forward.

The allegations have not been proven in court, and Crawford is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Investigators are continuing to examine what led to the confrontation and why the victim was targeted.

For the woman who had simply stopped to fill her vehicle with gas, an ordinary evening suddenly became a life-changing ordeal.

And authorities are still trying to answer the question at the center of the case:

Why her?