S&P upgrades MetroHealth's outlook to stable

A 28-year-old Cleveland man is in critical condition at MetroHealth Medical Center after he set fire to himself, according to the Ohio Highway Patrol.

(Plain Dealer file photo )

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- As three young children looked on, a Cleveland man walked into the path of a semi-truck, and after being struck but not killed, doused himself with gasoline and set fire to himself, the Ohio Highway Patrol reports.

A bystander extinguished the flames and the 28-year-old man was flown to MetroHealth Medical Center, according to the Highway Patrol, which is investigating the incident as an attempted suicide.

The incident happened about 11 a.m. Monday on U.S. Route 20 in Pittsfield Township in Lorain County. According to the highway patrol:

The victim was driving westbound on U.S. Route 20 with three children believed to be his. He pulled over to the berm, got out of his 2002 Acura TL and walked into traffic. A semi-truck struck him.

The man walked back to his car and pulled out a container of gasoline. He gulped some of the gasoline and poured some over his body before igniting himself.

The man was listed in critical condition Monday afternoon. No one else was injured during the incident.

Lt. Craig Cvetan said the children, ages 7, 4, and 1, are in the custody of Lorain County Children Services.