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PROVO — Police are investigating after a man was found next to a Provo dumpster with severe burns over most of his body.
Provo police received a report shortly before 2 p.m. Monday of a "man on fire" by a dumpster at the 7-Eleven at 525 Columbia Lane. The fire had started in the dumpster and spread to him. When officers arrived on scene, they found a 22-year-old male who was still on fire, according to Lt. Mathew Siufanua with the Provo Police Department.
"Several people from neighboring businesses were actually trying to put him out with fire extinguishers and other means," he said.
Witnesses said the man was engulfed in flames.
"There was literally clothes on fire all along the pathway this guy had been running from the Dumpster up to the front of the 7-Eleven," said Dave Johnson, who works nearby.
Celia Rodriguez, who also works nearby, said the man was frantic and screaming.
"His head and hair were totally burned," she said. "He was almost totally naked. All his clothes were totally burned."
Paramedics took the man to the Utah Valley Regional Medical Center. He was later flown via Life Flight to the University of Utah burn center.
The man has third-degree burns over 80 percent of his body, according to Siufanua. It was unclear whether the fire had been set intentionally and how it had been caused.
Contributing: Jed Boal and McKenzie Romero
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