Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, May 28, 1993                   TAG: 9305280135
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: A-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: RON BROWN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

BOYS WERE SNIFFING GASOLINE

Jon Blankenship, 13, remained in critical condition at the University of Virginia Hospital burn center Thursday.

Lewis-Gale Hospital would not release any information on the condition of Scott Meredith, 13, who suffered burns to his legs and arms.

Witnesses told police they saw the two boys sniffing gasoline as they stood atop an embankment near Bonnieville Motor Court and Lakeside Plaza.

Police found two 2-liter plastic soft-drink containers which apparently had contained gasoline. One of the containers was charred and found at the bottom of the 10-foot embankment.

Blankenship, who was badly burned on the upper half of his body, also was found there.

Police said the location was sometimes used by youngsters as a type of clubhouse.

Two metal posts were driven in a tree root near the top of the embankment. Ropes were tied to the post to help people climb the embankment or lower themselves to railroad tracks.

Police said Blankenship and Meredith were on top of the embankment Wednesday night when two girls showed up below.

One of the girls, age 11, was playing with a match and threw it toward the embankment. One of the boys then poured a small amount of gasoline down the embankment.

When the spark of the match hit the gasoline fumes, they ignited. Police say burn marks left by the fire indicate that the match did not actually touch the gasoline.

Blankenship was taken to Roanoke Memorial Hospital before being airlifted to the UVa burn center.

The incident occurred five days after ABC Television's "20/20" show aired a segment on the hazards to teen-agers who inhale household products.

Salem Police Sgt. Mike Fisher said the investigation indicated that Blankenship and Meredith had inhaled gasoline before.

Medical experts say the short- and long-term health effects of inhaling gasoline include paralysis, irregular heartbeat, reduced vision or reduced muscular coordination. Long-term abusers can experience a diminished capacity to breathe.

In all abusers, death can occur.