El Cajon
An El Cajon man was critically injured Wednesday morning in a natural gas explosion resulting from an apparent suicide attempt.
El Cajon police, responding to a fire in the 300 block of Richardson Street, found Mark Edward Riley, 29, lying in his front yard. Fire Department investigators said that natural gas, leaking from a disconnected pipe, had accumulated in the house’s kitchen and was ignited by the pilot light on the stove.
El Cajon Police Officer Benny Stafford said the pipe had been disconnected intentionally in what appeared to be a suicide attempt. The Fire Department is continuing its investigation.
Riley was flown by Life Flight helicopter to the burn unit at UC San Diego Medical Center, where he was listed in critical condition with second- and third-degree burns over 60% of his body.
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