Boy Scout burned by flammable liquid dies
WARETOWN, N.J. (AP) - July 11, 2008 Sean Whitley of Marlton died Thursday in the Temple University
Hospital Burn Unit in Philadelphia, where he was taken after being
injured on July 6 at the Joseph A. Citta Scout Camp in Waretown.
The Ocean County Prosecutor's Office announced the death on
Friday. It is continuing to investigate. No charges have been
filed.
Authorities say Whitley was burned when an 18-year-old scout,
who is also a senior staff member at the camp, ignited rubbing
alcohol from a bottle to create a flammable circle on a makeshift
table.
Investigators say the staff member, whose name was not released,
thought the fire had burned out and squirted more fuel onto the
ring. An ember ignited a flame, which traveled back up the stream
into the bottle.
The staff member tossed the bottle, which spilled the flaming
liquid onto Whitley and two other scouts who were watching. The two
others were less seriously burned.
