A 7-year-old Utah boy died from burns he suffered when he and a friend were playing with matches.
According to Salt Lake City police, the 7-year-old and his 9-year old friend were lighting matches and using an accelerant in an alley near Gillespie Avenue and Navajo Street, in the city’s Poplar Grove neighborhood, shortly after 6 p.m. on Saturday. The 7-year-old boy’s clothes ignited. A neighbor extinguished the flames with a blanket, but the boy was burned over a large part of his body.
The 9-year-old was not injured.
Police are continuing to investigate the boy’s death, which they called a “tragic accident.”
For over 150 years, The Salt Lake Tribune has been Utah’s independent news source. Our reporters work tirelessly to uncover the stories that matter most to Utahns, from unraveling the complexities of court rulings to allowing tax payers to see where and how their hard earned dollars are being spent. This critical work wouldn’t be possible without people like you—individuals who understand the importance of local, independent journalism. As a nonprofit newsroom, every subscription and every donation fuels our mission, supporting the in-depth reporting that shines a light on the is sues shaping Utah today.
You can help power this work.