Police: Oregon woman sets self on fire while driving, crashes, then jumps off bridge

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Police in Eugene, Oregon, say a 39-year-old driver apparently set herself on fire intentionally, crashed her car on a bridge and jumped 40 feet to a park below.

The Register-Guard newspaper of Eugene reports that police say the woman is being treated for life-threatening injuries at a Portland-area hospital.

Police say a 911 caller reported Thursday afternoon that a car appeared to be on fire from the inside and the female at the wheel was driving recklessly.

After the car crashed into a bridge guardrail, witnesses told police the woman jumped out — on fire — and began taking her clothes off as she ran to the edge of the bridge.

Traffic police Lt. Doug Mozan says truck drivers tried to put out the flames with fire extinguishers and another person tried to pull the woman from the edge of the bridge but she was still able to jump.