Kentucky Man Dies From Burns in Lexington Parking Lot

Nov. 8, 2004
A homeless man died from burns after witnesses saw him on fire in a parking lot near Rupp Arena on Saturday afternoon.
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) -- A homeless man died from burns after witnesses saw him on fire in a parking lot near Rupp Arena on Saturday afternoon.

Gary Wayne Rodgers, 46, had no address in Lexington, said deputy coroner Steve McCown.

Witnesses saw Rodgers around 12:30 p.m. EST in the parking lot on the west side of Rupp, where the Kentucky men's basketball team plays its home games.

Minutes later, witnesses told police Rodgers was on fire, McCown's report said. Bystanders put out the flames with a fire extinguisher before paramedics arrived, but Rodgers died at the scene, McCown said.

An autopsy was scheduled for Sunday in Frankfort.

McCown would not speculate on whether Rodgers set himself on fire. However, he said foul play was not suspected.

McCown was investigating whether Rodgers was covered with any accelerants, like gasoline. He said the burns were not centralized in one part of Rodgers' body.

``He was just burned all over,'' McCown said.

Voice Your Opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Firehouse, create an account today!