‘Thought I was going to die’: Woman burned in gas station fire sparked by road rage crash

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS/Gray News) - A woman spoke out for the first time since being injured in a gas station fire in South Carolina.

Olivia Rembert Finch recalled the terrifying moments she was caught in a fiery crash at a Spinx gas station on May 17. She just came from church and stopped to get gas at her favorite spot.

“Since I’ve been driving, I’ve always watched my surroundings when I’m at a gas station. Before I was about to get back in my car, I heard a loud tire screech,” Finch said.

Finch said she turned around and saw a car driving toward her before it slammed into the gas pump she was using.

The Richland County Sheriff’s Department said a woman trying to get away from a road-rage incident ended up crashing.

The impact instantly ignited flames and caught Finch’s clothes on fire. She was also stuck, pinned between the chaos.

“I thought I was going to die. I thought that was it for me,” Finch said.

Finch was pinned and forced to crawl through a gap. She rolled on the ground to put out the flames before someone could help rescue her. She unknowingly took a photo of the moment. The image shows her lying on the ground as flames surrounded her leg.

Even with severe burns at the time, she was worried about her car, which is now destroyed.

Finch is now left with burns on her hands, legs and feet. The burns were so severe that she had to get skin graft surgery.

As she recovers at home, she’s counting her blessings.

“I was grateful. I just kept thanking God that I was alive and that I could make it out,” Finch said.

The Richland County Sheriff’s Department has not announced any arrests in connection with the crash or road rage incident. A spokesperson said the investigation is ongoing.

A GoFundMe has also been started to help with Finch’s medical costs.