Man Sets Woman on Fire on Chicago Train
Man Sets Woman on Fire on Chicago Train
The News
A person was in custody Tuesday after a woman was set on fire while riding a CTA Blue Line in Chicago's Loop the night before.
According to Chicago police, the 26-year-old woman got into a quarrel with a 45-year-old man while on a train at the Clark/Lake subway station around 9:25 p.m. Police said the fight escalated when the man poured a liquid on the woman and set her on fire.
Sources said the liquid the man poured was gasoline.
Police said the woman ran off the train and collapsed on the platform.
The woman was no longer on fire when first responders arrived at the scene. But suffered severe burns, and she was taken to Stroger Hospital of Cook County in critical condition.
Police said a person was taken into custody after the attack. The person's identity is unknown at this time. An arson investigation is ongoing.
Reactions
"She was running off the train towards the middle of it, completely engulfed in fire," said witness Christopher Flores.
A witness told CBS News Chicago they saw the victim jump off the train and bystanders come to her aid.
"I went over to see what's going on, said Flores. "She's on the ground crying. Burnt to a crisp."
"The Fire Department showed up and we smelt a strong burning smell," said Blue Line rider Wyatt Wykoff.
Instead, officials issued a statement Tuesday afternoon: "The CTA has been working closely with the Chicago Police Department (CPD) and the Public Transportation Unit detectives embedded at the Strategic Decision Support Center (SDSC) dedicated to CTA, to support their investigation and ensure the offender is quickly apprehended.
More
The woman remained in the hospital late Tuesday afternoon.
Sources said more than half her body was burned. CBS Chicago obtained video of the aftermath, which shows a woman with significant burns on her head.
The incident was tremendously concerning for Chicago Transit Authority train riders.
How is the CTA responding to this incident and addressing obvious safety concerns in its wake? CBS News Chicago first started contacting the CTA Monday night, an an interview request declined on Tuesday.
Charleston White Arrested Again on Florida Battery Charge
Border Patrol Rescues MS NOW Crew in Desert
Sep 13, 2026
Supreme Court Restores Missouri's Old House Map
Sep 13, 2026
Alaska Drops Felony Voter Charges Against Samoans
Sep 13, 2026
Trespasser Breaches Harris' Malibu Estate; No Arrest
Sep 12, 2026
Hegseth Pressed Downed Airmen Into 60 Minutes
Sep 12, 2026
Houthis Seize Mokha, Choking Saudi Oil Exports
Sep 12, 2026
Altman Rules Out OpenAI IPO This Year
Sep 12, 2026
Jury Acquits Lil Durk in Murder-for-Hire Case
Sep 12, 2026
Judge: Trump Broke Law Halving FEMA Staff
Sep 12, 2026
Maher Calls Democrats' Gaza Genocide Claim a Lie
Sep 12, 2026
Blizzard Revives StarCraft, Sends Diablo to Netflix
Sep 12, 2026
Trump's Queens Childhood Home Sells for $1.93M
Sep 12, 2026
Scientists Find New Virus in Tick Invading US
Sep 12, 2026
Britain Bans Settlement Imports; US States Threaten Payback
Sep 12, 2026
Prison Fire Kills 7 as Kurds Protest Killing
Sep 12, 2026
Kosovo Rallies for Ex-President Before Hague Verdict
Sep 12, 2026
Cruz Booed at GameDay Over College Sports Bill
Sep 12, 2026
Blast Hits Bulgarian Arms Plant Supplying Ukraine
Sep 12, 2026
DOJ Loses Nearly Every Protester Assault Trial
Sep 12, 2026
Sep 13, 2026