Happening today: Osceola County sheriff to discuss gas station fire that severely burned man

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — The Osceola County sheriff is expected to talk Thursday afternoon about a gas station fire that left a motorcyclist burned on more than 75% of his body.

The state fire marshal said the explosion happened after an Osceola County deputy used his Taser near a pool of gasoline.

>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<

The sheriff’s office’s policy is for Tasers not to be used around flammable substances.

Motorcyclist Jean Barreto, 26, was burned from his neck to his ankles in the fire and remains hospitalized nearly three months after it happened.

READ: Attorneys for motorcyclist burned in gas station fire ask Osceola deputies to turn case over to FDLE

Barreto’s attorney, Mark NeJame, discussed the case on Wednesday, calling for Sheriff Marcos Lopez to hand the investigation into the fire over to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement or the U.S. Department of Justice.

Lopez is expected to answer questions regarding the case at 4 p.m. Thursday. You can click here to watch the news conference live when it happens.

READ: Woman describes how stepson was badly burned in confrontation with Osceola deputies at gas station

Stay tuned to Channel 9 Eyewitness News for updates.

Video: Attorneys for motorcyclist burned in gas station fire ask Osceola deputies to turn case over to FDLE Jean Barreto, 26, was burned from his neck to his ankles after an Osceola County deputy tackled him while he was filling up his motorcycle. (Shannon Butler, WFTV.com)

Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.

©2022 Cox Media Group