Man engulfed in flames startles fast-food patrons in Phoenix

PHOENIX -- Bystanders rushed to help a man found engulfed in flames outside some restaurants in Phoenix.

The unidentified man was hospitalized in critical condition with burns over much of his body, and police are investigating how or why he was on fire Thursday evening.

Police Sgt. Trent Crump says bystanders heard the man screaming. Some ran into a nearby Arby's restaurant for help, and manager Lindsay Riedlinger grabbed a fire extinguisher and sprayed the man, who was partially naked.

"He just looked really scared," Riedlinger told CBS station KPHO-TV. "A lot of people were surrounding him. ... Smoke was coming off of him like crazy."

Riedlinger says he had a blank look his face and appeared to be in shock. She says he then got up and went into a nearby Taco Bell to get some water.

KPHO reports that the Taco Bell had to be evacuated due to smoke.

She followed the still-smoldering man into the restaurant until police and paramedics arrived.

Phoenix police Sgt. Trent Crump told KPHO that officers were trying to unravel the details and figure out why the man on was fire in the first place.