Woman accused of setting car ablaze with child inside, Oregon officials say

A woman was arrested after being accused of lighting a car on fire with a child inside, Oregon officials said.

On Aug. 6, Oregon State Police officers responded to a dispute in Florence, where they learned 39-year-old Abigail Williston had lit a car carrying a child on fire, according to a Facebook post by Lane County deputies.

The child was rescued, officials said.

Williston went inside a home with another child, but police were able to rescue them through a window, officers said.

After deputies tried negotiating with Williston, she refused to comply and sprayed them with a fire extinguisher, officers said.

Deputies were eventually able to arrest her, officials said.

Officers didn’t not say what relationship Williston had to the children.

She was booked into the Lane County jail on charges of arson, reckless burning, reckless endangering, menacing, criminal mischief, resisting arrest and harassment, officials said.

Florence is about a 170-mile drive southwest of Portland.

This story was originally published August 8, 2024 at 1:46 PM with the headline "Woman accused of setting car ablaze with child inside, Oregon officials say."