According to The Berkeley Scanner, the victim suffered second-and-third-degree burns over most of his body and was transported to Highland Hospital in Oakland.
Good Samaritans try to save man on fire
A woman in her 40s who attempted to help the man was also hospitalized with minor injuries, while another good Samaritan who tried to render aid was treated for burns at the scene and released.
Eyewitness accounts suggest that the man was yelling about the “Mormon Mafia” and was lashing out at those attempting to extinguish the flames.
Tony Delacruz, who witnessed the incident, told Berkeleyside that the man seemed indifferent to the fire but was aggressive toward bystanders.
Rachel Diao, another witness, reported hearing the man shout about the “Mormon Mafia” while running from and pushing away those trying to help him.
UC Berkeley officials have not confirmed whether the victim was affiliated with the university, and the incident is currently being investigated by campus police.
The University of California Police Department (UCPD) has released a statement confirming that they received a call at roughly 4:17 p.m. about a person who was on fire.
Mental health emergency
The statement also confirmed that mental health professionals were on the scene and that several good Samaritans attempted to render aid and put out the fire, with at least one of them sustaining unknown injuries and being transported to a local hospital.
