Father torches van after news of son's death

(CNN) -- After being informed that his 20- year-old son was killed while serving in Iraq, a Florida man doused a U.S. government van with gasoline and set it on fire while sitting inside.

Carlos Arredondo, 44, was severely burned and rushed to Hollywood Regional Hospital in Florida after learning that Pfc. Alexander Arredondo had died, police said.

"He suffered serious burns," said Detective Carlos Negron.

Negron said the young man was killed in Iraq Tuesday.

Melida Arredondo told CNN-affiliate WFOR, "My husband did not take the news well."

The events started around 2:15 p.m. when three Marine casualty officers arrived at the home to inform the Arredondo family of the death.

Arredondo went to his garage and came out carrying a propane tank, a gallon of gasoline and a welder's torch, police spokesman Tony Rode said.

The Marines tried to calm him, Rode said, but Arredondo smashed the window of their van, got inside and doused it with the gasoline.

Then he set it on fire.

"Unfortunately, the man was caught in the fire," a police statement said.

Video showed the van engulfed in flames.

The three Marines pulled the father from the burning van and had him "drop and roll," police said.

Arredondo was taken to a hospital and then to a burn center in Miami, Florida, with serious burns over much of his body.

"A bad situation turned ugly is what happened," Rode said.

"He's actually inside and, at one point, comes out of the vehicle pretty much on fire," Rode said. "He was burning on his arms, legs and hands."

The U.S. Marines had no immediate comment.

A call to the family's home was not immediately returned.

The following link has a video report:

http://www.firstcoastnews.com/video/player320.aspx?aid=29612&bw=

Man Sets Van, Himself on Fire

Police say Carlos Arredondo set the van on fire after being told about the death of his 20-year-old son

The Marines tried to stop him from setting the van on fire but failed.

HOLLYWOOD, FL (AP) -- In Hollywood, the father of a Marine killed in Iraq is hospitalized with severe burns after setting fire to a Marine Corps van Wednesday afternoon.

Police say Carlos Arredondo set the van on fire after being told about the death of his 20-year-old son.

Private first class Alexander Arredondo died Tuesday in Najaf, according to local television reports.

Marines went to his parents' home in Hollywood with the news. Carlos Arredondo walked out of the house with a torch and what appeared to be a container of flammable liquid.

The Marines tried to stop him from setting the van on fire but failed. Arredondo set himself on fire as he ignited the van.

Police say Marines pulled him out of the van and put out the flames.

Impeach Bush.