OAKLAND — The death of a man who may have accidentally set himself on fire early Thursday was being investigated by police.
The man’s name and age were not immediately released.
Authorities said a passerby saw the man on fire and screaming about 1:03 a.m. Thursday in a vacant lot in the 1000 block of 46th Avenue near East 12th Street, a primarily commercial and industrial area.
That person and others tried to put out the flames but could not, authorities said. Firefighters eventually did, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police found evidence at the scene indicating the man may have accidentally set himself on fire but would not elaborate, citing the ongoing investigation. At this point the fatality is being investigated as a suspicious-circumstance unexplained death, pending an autopsy.
Anyone with information is asked to call police at 510-238-3821.