Unbeknownst to the Troopers, the suspect had a canister of gas in his backpack. The TASER prongs likely punctured the can. Burns were mostly superficial, but obviously very painful. He is expected to make a full recovery.
Update 10/22/2022: A few questions being asked in the comments- The initial stop was for no visible license plate. A reasonable person would stop and MAYBE receive a minor traffic citation.
The driver/rider was transported to Arkansas Children's Hospital because they have a specialized burn unit. Actually, one of the best in the world. He is expected to make a full recovery.
The Troopers had no way of knowing he had a bottle of fuel in his backpack. No reasonable person would assume someone is carrying cans of gas in his/her backpack.
Update 10/28/2022: From the ARKANSAS STATE POLICE- An Arkansas motorcyclist carrying a gasoline-filled backpack was expected to survive after he was engulfed by a fireball when a state trooper used a Taser on him during a traffic stop, authorities said.
The Oct. 13 traffic stop was captured on dramatic dashcam video provided Thursday to The Associated Press by Arkansas State Police.
The video shows a trooper attempting to pull over a motorcycle driven by Christopher Gaylor, 38, of Alexander, Arkansas, because no license plate was visible on the motorcycle. A chase ensued with speeds approaching 100 mph until Gaylor jumped from his motorcycle in a residential area of North Little Rock, state police said.
A second state trooper used a Taser on Gaylor and a fire immediately erupted. State police said they later learned that Gaylor was carrying about 1 gallon of gasoline in his backpack.
The video shows troopers extinguishing the blaze and providing medical care to Gaylor, who remains hospitalized but is expected to recover, state police said.
He faces charges of felony fleeing, failure to register a vehicle, no liability insurance, driving with a suspended license and reckless driving. It was unclear whether he had an attorney to speak on his behalf.
We're taking Chandler Street right now, he's on foot, he crashed into a car, he's on foot,
we're taking Chandler Street right now.
We're taking Chandler Street right now, he's on foot, he crashed out.
He's on foot, he crashed out.
He's on fire, he's on fire.
He's on fire right now.
10-4.
You're on the ground.
Alright, put your hands behind your back.
Put your hands behind your back.
Put your left hand behind your back.
Stop moving.
That's me. I'll get it.
What's going on?
I hit him, I'm going to turn my side off.
It's right here.
Oh, no.
Oh, it burns so bad.
4-2, Little Rock.
Clear the net. 10-15.
10-4, copy. 10-15, clear the net. 1-20 a.m.
Good reason not to run, man.
No, sir. Do you know who it belongs to?
Our unit's in net is 10-64.
10-64, resume normal 1-21.
His melted jacket.
It burns so bad.
Yeah, I bet it does, man.
Oh, man.
Take a Sunday break, please.
I'll take it twice next time.
Yes, sir.
4-8, do you still have any demands of rescue?
10-4, go ahead and start last.
10-4, there. 10-19.
Yeah, that's melted to the door.
Yeah, we got medical coming.
8-6, you're 10-4.
I got some water in my car.
Y'all got him?
Go ahead, Little Rock.
What do y'all need, guys?
I think we're good, just waiting for medical on him.
10-4, thanks.
16, give me a call when you get a chance.
10-4, sir.
10-8, 6-4, 10-10.
All right, 10-8, 6, 1-22.
Hey, brother, where are you burning the worst at, huh?
Up my back and my hands and my ribs.
Ribs is right there.
And my stomach all the way up my stomach.
Here, lean your head back, man.
I'll get you some water.
10-4, 16.
You got a map on your head.
I do.
You good?
Yeah.
You good?
I'm putting water everywhere.
Is that scissors?
Yeah.
I'm burning so bad.
10-4.
How's it going?
Just pulling out my arm.
Just pulling out a bucket.
All right, man, I've only got one of these.
Pick which part hurts the worst and I'll put it on it.
My back.
Your back?
Right there, lower back.
Yeah.
I did it.
My partner did.
Yeah, it's the jacket burn, too.
My lower back.
All my lower back.
All right.
All my ribs real bad.
And my ribs real bad and my hands.
Do you hear that, man?
No, I wouldn't do it.
I wouldn't do it.
I would just do it.
That's a completely different treatment for a burn than a death.
I'm going to put it here.
Appreciate you, bro.
Yeah, you're doing a great job.
10-4, 127.
42, do you want to go ahead and start one?
10-4, go ahead and start one.
10-4, it'll be Blue Hill.
8-16, go ahead.
7-5.
10-4.
Blue Hill, can you send me a VIN, please?
8-16, go ahead.
5-0-2.
10-4, go ahead.
