A gang of people poured gasoline over a car and set it alight while the driver was inside in South Los Angeles early Saturday, police said.

The car's front end was nearly completely charred as it sat in the gas station at daybreak Saturday.

The group confronted a man while he was pumping gas at the 76 station at Figueroa Street and Vernon Avenue at about 12:15 a.m., a Los Angeles Police Department spokesman said.

As the dispute escalated, the frightened car owner locked himself inside his vehicle, which is when the group covered the car in gasoline and set it on fire, the spokesman said.

The person in the car was able to get out and suffered no injuries, police said. The suspects remain at large.