Mom set car and 14-month-old baby on fire on I-126 in South Carolina
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Columbia Police have arrested a mother who they say intentionally set her car on fire with her 14-month-old child inside along I-126 in Columbia, South Caroline. 23-year-old
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Columbia Police have arrested a mother who they say intentionally set her car on fire with her 14-month-old child inside along I-126 in Columbia, South Caroline.
23-year-old Caylin Allise Watson of Elgin, SC has been charged with attempted murder, arson three degree, and abuse/infliction of significant bodily injury upon a child. She is currently being held at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center.
On Sunday, May 17, Watson was parked along the mile marker one on Interstate-126 westbound. Officers say she then set her car on fire while her son sat inside.
The child suffered severe burns all over his body and is in critical condition at the Augusta Burn Center in Augusta, Georgia. Watson was initially treated at a local hospital for minor injuries before being taken to jail.
Four bystanders, who were all traveling in the same direction on the interstate, saw the car on fire and stopped to assist by either calling 9-1-1 or getting out of their vehicles to help the child, said the police.
CPD officers then arrived on the scene, and the Columbia Fire Department (CFD) extinguished the flames. Watson was immediately detained after evidence suggested that the fire may have been intentionally set.
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) assisted CPD with processing the crime scene.
