His attempt to perform a good deed, siphoning gas for a friend's car, culminated in disaster when he decided to light up a cigarette while siphoning said gas.

Fire and Rescue Lieutenant Jason Sanders gives the boy the benefit of the doubt: "The fumes from the gas and cigarette decided to catch fire." It's all your fault, fumes.

To add insult to injury, the victim of those capricious fumes may face charges for attempted theft.

Submitted on 01/02/2010

Submitted by: Liz Holsinger
Reference: http://www.tdn.com/news/article_689b4ed6-f76d-11de-a4eb-001cc4c002e0.html The Daily News 01-01-10

Copyright © 2010 DarwinAwards.com

James said:
Definitely Keep: Honorable Mention
Usually when we get one of these, it's someone lighting a match to see inside a (presumably empty) gas tank. In this case, the mook in question was actively engaging in siphoning someone else's gas and lit a cigarette while doing so. I find this one quite gratifying as well as stupid! My fellow mods may feel this is too common, but I find it quite funny! Thanks, Liz!

Graham said:
Definitely Toss: Too Common
People "lighting up" while surrounded by fuel, oxygen, etc are just too common these days to be of any real value. Yes, it's incredibly stupid, but way too common. Thanks for submitting

Bruce said:
Definitely Toss: Too Common
As Graham said. We get lots of stories of people lighting cigarettes when they should have known better. We also get lots of stories of people using cigarette lighters to check the levels of fuel tanks, etc. Thanks just the same.

Candi said:
Definitely Toss: Too Common
What Graham and Bruce said.

Jack said:
Definitely Keep: Honorable Mention
Most of the dumb criminal stories we get involve people killing themselves while trying to steal copper wire without checking to see if it's electrified. But this is first case I can recall about someone almost killing themselves while stealing gasoline. I'll vote to keep it.

The Darwin Awards Gift Shop

The Darwin Awards Condom Keep yourself out of the gene pool! A condom in a matchbook, useful for emergency contraception, bachelor parties, frat parties, and important rites of passage. LOADED inside and out with funny quotes and stories. Everyone loves this item! Friends don't let friends reproduce! $13 for Pack of 4