RICHMOND —
A vehicle that burst into flames Wednesday evening on South Kilarney Lane is suspected to have been carrying methamphetamine-making ingredients inside, according to Trooper Paul Blanton of the Kentucky State Police.
One of the two occupants in the vehicle was transported to the University of Kentucky Medical Center’s burn unit with significant burns covering around 27 percent of her body, said Carlos Coyle, Madison County EMS supervisor.
The burned occupant is in fair condition, a medical center spokesperson said late Thursday afternoon.
KSP Trooper Danny Moses, an experienced drug-recognition investigator who was at the scene, reported that he suspects the occupants were stripping lithium batteries to manufacture meth, according to Blanton.
That form of lithium is highly flammable, even to water, he said.
Also, the presence of a suspension liquid, such as ether, rubbing alcohol or cooking fuel could have been what accelerated the fire, Blanton said.
The vehicle was fully engulfed with flames when firefighters arrived, so any evidence of meth-making ingredients was destroyed, he said.
The burned occupant, who was at the Best Western Hotel when troopers arrived, appeared to be “tweaking,” according to Moses, who questioned both occupants.
Tweaking is a common term for being under the influence of methamphetamine.
The burned occupant professed not to know what happened, Moses reported, and the second occupant claiming not to know what the other person had been doing.
“The way the fire started is the most unusual thing about it,” Chief Buzzy Campbell of the Richmond Fire Department, which was able to suppress the fire in less than 10 minutes.
This was the first time the department has responded to a car fire with hazardous materials inside the vehicle, he said.
The vehicle was registered to someone with the last name Kirby who has a Berea address, Blanton said.
The KSP will continue to investigate and could pursue criminal charges, he said.
Crystal Wylie can be reached at cwylie@richmondregister.com or 623-1669, Ext. 6696.
Local News
Burning car may have contained materials for making meth
One occupant of vehicle suffered burns
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