SEATTLE — A Snohomish student’s vehicle was set on fire in Ballard while he was working, which left him scrambling to find a way to now get to school and work.
On January 24 at about 9 a.m., Seattle police said a man set a vehicle on fire on Northwest Dock Place in Ballard.
A gold Subaru Outback was totaled after it was engulfed in flames.
The owner, Joshua Madrigal, 19, was working down the street when he heard the devastating news from his coworker.
He and his brother-in-law rushed over and were shocked at how the fire was sparked after speaking with firefighters.
“It’s really heartbreaking for me,” he said. “They told me it looked like a homeless man had started the fire.”
“I was really shocked,” said Christopher Velpecula, Madrigal’s brother-in-law. “We would never imagine that happening.”
The vehicle was parked next to what appeared to be a homeless camp, police told KIRO 7 News.
Witnesses told investigators that the suspect was “briskly walking away from the scene” and had “shifty eyes.”
Madrigal told KIRO 7 News that the fire destroyed his first and only vehicle, which he uses to drive around 40 miles to work and school.
He said his insurance company won’t cover the damage since he has liability coverage.
“You get the cheaper plan on the older car, while I’m trying to save up money, trying to get a foot forward in life. Financially, it was a smart choice at the time. The chance of an event like that happening, your car gets destroyed, is very small,” he said.
Madrigal said the situation could’ve been a lot worse by possibly damaging vehicles and injuring people.
“The situation could’ve been much worse. The fuel tank could’ve exploded because it happened to be under the rear seat where the car ignited,” he said.
But thanks to a nearby witness, Madrigal said his quick thinking possibly prevented a much more dangerous outcome.
KIRO 7 News spoke with Brig Konecke, who was working nearby when he rushed over with a fire extinguisher to stop the fire from spreading.
“The flames were leaping at least 10 feet in the air,” he said. “We’re here to help each other in this crazy life. It’s just what you do for people, even if you don’t know them, you help them out.”
KIRO 7 News reached out to the Seattle Fire Department and Seattle Police Department to get more details.
Police said they’re still searching for the suspect.
A spokesperson for the fire department said the case has been handed over to the police department.
A GoFundMe was created to help Madrigal. A spokesperson for the company said the fundraiser has been verified.