Posted on 09/24/2009 5:00:41 AM PDT by Born Conservative
Angel Vazquez IV was playing outside his Hilltop Manor home on Sept. 12 when he found a disposable lighter and carried it inside up to his second-floor bedroom.
The 5-year-old's father, Angel Enrique Vazquez III, said he heard what sounded like his son choking and ran upstairs, where he found the boy on fire. The lighter had exploded, causing severe burns and internal damage.
Mr. Vazquez ripped off Angel's shirt, and his son's skin fell off in his hands. He cradled the boy, ran to his car and rushed to Community Medical Center - where he said he arrived within 15 minutes.
The tragic chain of events was described to The Times-Tribune by Angel's family Wednesday, as the incident is being investigated by Scranton police, and as the family handles funeral arrangements for Angel, who died Sunday at Lehigh Valley Hospital's burn unit.
When Mr. Vazquez found his son, he never called 911 or police. He told The Times-Tribune he believed he could get his son to the hospital before an ambulance would arrive at their home. Mr. Vazquez said some of his neighbors have waited 15 minutes or more for ambulances to arrive at Hilltop in South Scranton.
"I'm not going to let my son sit there with burns and make phone calls," Mr. Vazquez said.
Scranton Police first learned of the incident when Lehigh County Coroner Scott Grim's office contacted police Sunday to tell them the boy had died.
Neither the Scranton Fire Department nor the Scranton Housing Authority, which operates Hilltop, had any knowledge of the incident.
On Wednesday, Mr. Vazquez said when he ripped the shirt off his son, one piece landed on the floor, and one on the mattress. Both small fires were quickly stomped out, he said.
Audrey Leon, the boy's grandmother, said the only damage done to the 812 Herbert St. home was a burn mark about the size of a half dollar on the floor in Angel's room.
"We never even thought we needed to call police," she said.
Angel had burns over 12 percent of his body, and internal damage was severe, his father said.
An autopsy performed in Allentown found Angel died of complications from his injuries, Lehigh County First Assistant Coroner Paul Hoffman said on Tuesday.
The John F. Kennedy Elementary School kindergarten student loved music, dancing, sports and Matchbox cars. During his first week of school, he made friends and made puppets out of paper bags.
"He was very curious, very smart and brightened up people's eyes," his father said.
http://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/circumstances_surrounding_scranton_child_s_death_still_a_mystery
What’s the mystery? Why would the PD/FD need to know?
Sad. And strange. I don’t understand the internal damages part.
Maybe inhalation of flame?
If I had to guess, which I do because the story isn’t very complete, it could be that some people don’t believe the story, and think maybe the parents had something to do with the death.
Very sad.
Irreprarable damage would be pretty much instantaneous. I know disposible lighters can explode with force but usually don’t. That’s probably why there is no mention of the father hearing an explosion. I’ve had them “blow up” in my hand before with no damage to me.
(FMHSH) From My Hot Smouldering Hands!
Pray tell me since when is it necessary to contact the police when your family is envolved in a home accident. The coroner notified them after the death, which is the way it should be, other wise it is none of their business. Ditto the fire department if the house wasn't on fire why would they have to be apprised of the situation?
Possibly inhalation attempting to reproduce a fire-eater blowing flames? It’s a trick many a young man has done...just don’t do it if you have a moustache.
Also, the fluid (butane) can provide a type of “high” from “huffing”; that may be a real stretch for a 5yo, tho.
When a child dies from burns, it would be standard procedure to have the incident investigated for potential child abuse.
A 5 year old with 3rd degree burns automatically has abuse as one of the differential diagnoses when the physician treats the child.
BTW, Welcome to Free Republic.
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