A Texas man is facing legal repercussions following the tragic death of a 17-year-old girl who succumbed to severe burn injuries she sustained last month. The accused, 23-year-old Sebastian Lindsey, has been charged with manslaughter in connection with the death of Madison Lewis, a resident of Jacksboro, Texas.
On December 16, Lewis was rushed to the emergency room after suffering extensive burn injuries. According to eyewitness accounts, a group of individuals had gathered in the backyard of a residence on West Pine, within the city limits of Jacksboro. A small fire was burning in a metal barrel at the gathering.
Eyewitnesses reported that Lewis was standing near the barrel when Lindsey, in an attempt to intensify the fire, poured gasoline from a can onto the flames. The gasoline ignited, causing the fire to leap from the barrel and engulf Lewis, setting her hair and clothing ablaze.
Following the incident, those present at the scene were hesitant to call emergency services due to the presence of alcohol at the gathering. Instead, they transported the severely burned teenager to Faith Community Hospital in a private vehicle.
From there, Lewis was airlifted to Parkland Hospital in Dallas, where she received treatment for burns covering 90% of her body. Despite the medical team’s best efforts, Lewis succumbed to her injuries on Sunday, January 7.
Lindsey was subsequently arrested and charged with manslaughter. The tragic incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of reckless behavior, particularly when fire and flammable substances are involved.