Man set on fire tells cabbie 'I know who did it' before succumbing to injuries
A young father who was set on fire on the side of a road has told the taxi driver who found him that he knows who his attacker is.
Wade Still, 23, died shortly after while on the way to hospital. Now, police are trying to track down his killers.
Taxi driver James Madden was heading along Oakdale Road in Newcastle at 1am on Monday when he saw the flames – then a man “screaming at the top of his lungs.”
“He was very burnt, blistered and very little clothing left on him,” Mr Madden said.
“He was saying, ‘I’m dying, I’m dying’, screaming. It was terrible.”
The taxi driver tried to keep him calm while waiting for help to arrive.
“I felt so helpless,” he said. “You know there’s not much you can do for the poor fella.”
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The 23-year-old victim told authorities he knew who had set him on fire, but tragically he died on the way to hospital.
His distraught girlfriend Paige Millan said Wade had left the house at 11.30pm on Sunday night to buy petrol and cigarettes.
“I love him and I just want to find out what happened and the truth to come out,” she said.
Police are appealing for anyone with dash cam video to come forward.
Footage shows a woman on the same remote stretch of road late on Sunday night.
“It’s real strange, especially at that time of night, to see anybody walking in the area,” a local told 7 News.
Anyone with information is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page.
