An 18-year-old mixed-race woman in Wisconsin has spoken out after allegedly being sprayed with lighter fluid and set on fire - causing burns to her face.
Per the Madison Police Department, teenage EMT Althea Bernstein told authorities that the attack occurred after she stopped at a red light on Wednesday.
After she heard somebody yell a racial slur, Bernstein claims four white men then sprayed lighter fluid through the open driver's side window, which covered her face and neck.
The thugs then allegedly threw a flaming lighter at her, causing the fluid to ignite and burn her skin.
The attack allegedly occurred at around 1:00AM, just a few blocks away from violent protests at the state Capitol.
Per CBS News, police are investigating the incident as a hate crime.
Bernstein speaks out about the incident below:The police report states that after being set alight, Bernstein started to drive away and pat out the flames. After driving home, her mom told her to go to the hospital to receive treatment.
While receiving treatment, it was the hospital's medical staff that identified the flammable liquid as lighter fluid.
Speaking to Good Morning America on Friday, Bernstein said she "never thought something like this would happen."
She added: "Once it happened I don't even remember anything, but your brain still has that fight or flight response that takes care of you. So I made it home, I called my mom, I drove myself to the ER.
Despite not being able to remember parts of the alleged attack, Bernstein says she hopes the police will be able to identify them.
Bernstein said: "I'm very very hopeful these men sort of see all the responses and they know that they hurt me. This is something that's going to affect me for a while and I really hope that they choose to improve themselves."
The teenager added that she has been struggling to sleep following the attack.
Per GMA, Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway issued a statement on the horrifying incident.
Rhodes-Conway said on Thursday (June 25): "This is a horrifying and absolutely unacceptable crime that I will not tolerate in Madison.
"While we are still learning more about the details, current information suggests this may have been a premeditated crime targeted toward people of color, which makes the incident even more disturbing.
"This hate crime is one of multiple recent downtown incidents where people’s safety and lives have been at risk.
"It is completely unacceptable and should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Everybody in Madison deserves to feel safe, and it is up to every single one of us to make that true."
