LASD: Man Fatally Engulfed in Flames May Have Been Wearing Flammable Costume

Authorities say the 51-year-old man who died after becoming engulfed in flames at the West Hollywood Halloween Costume Carnaval Thursday may have been wearing a dangerously flammable costume and lit himself on fire on accident, according to the Los Angeles Times. 

Gilbert Estrada was dressed a a sniper in camouflage and his costume was made possibly of burlap sacks and straw, according to the report. 

“It's really thin and flammable, “ Biddle said. “That stuff could ignite pretty fast.”

According to Los Angeles County Sheriff's Det. Richard Biddle, a bystander said he saw Estrada accidently ignite the hood of his Halloween costume with a cigarette lighter.

A video posted to YouTube shows Estrada flailing through the crowd, engulfed in flames. Many onlookers, apparently thinking it was part of a costume gag, cheered and laughed at the sight of the flames before a few people finally jumped on Estrada and put out the blaze. 

See the video here. (Warning: the video is graphic with swearing.) 

Estrada was rushed by ambulance from the festival and died the next morning at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.