A clumsy would-be arsonist in New Mexico accidentally set himself on fire while attempting to burn down his ex-girlfriend’s house. He fled the scene engulfed in flames, as captured on camera.
Artemio Sanchez-Ortega, 46, was seen walking down a street in Albuquerque with a gasoline can before trying to set his ex-girlfriend’s house on fire. The neighbor’s surveillance video obtained by KOAT Action News 7 shows the dramatic incident.
However, his plan went awry when the yard burst into flames while he was still there. The video shows Sanchez-Ortega hanging from the gate as the flames engulfed him.
He stumbled and ran down the road with flames clinging to his body. Despite the bizarre turn of events, he managed to escape in a white pickup truck.
Thankfully, his ex-girlfriend and her children inside the house were unharmed. Sanchez-Ortega is currently on the run, according to reports.
The ex-girlfriend mentioned that Sanchez-Ortega had called her multiple times before the incident, indicating he was under the influence. The fire caused damage only to the parked vehicles outside the house.
Neighbor Daniel Provine, who captured the incident on camera, expressed shock at the events and provided the recording to investigators to assist in the case.
