Maine man shoots self in head three times with flare gun while driving propane-powered truck

Maine State Police are investigating a possible attempted suicide after a man allegedly shot himself in the head with a flare gun on Tuesday.

Maine Department of Public Safety spokesperson Stephen McCausland said that two motorists pulled 65-year-old Daniel Abbott of Portland from his truck on I-295 in Freeport after noticing that the vehicle was on fire.

Jayson Forgues reportedly used his fire extinguisher to put out the fire while Paul Oleston dragged Abbott from the truck.

“The pickup had been modified to run on propane and troopers say if the fire had got out of control, the propane tank in the truck’s bed likely would have exploded,” McCausland noted.

Troopers indicated that Abbott shot himself three times. At least one of the flares caused injuries and burns to his head. Abbott was being treated for burns at Maine Medical Center. His condition was described as serious.