Va. man faces arson charges for burning SUV in Caroline County

Deputy State Fire Marshals say a Virginia man who lit his car on fire in Caroline County is now facing arson charges.

Officials say that 36-year-old Jason Andrew Kopp, of Front Royal, Va., started a brush fire in Preston and drove his Toyota RAV4 into the flames on the night of November 16, 2016.

Preston Volunteer Firefighters arrived to find Kopp standing nearby, but while firefighters tried putting out the fire, Kopp reportedly tried getting back into the burning SUV.

Firefighters say they subdued Kopp and extinguished the fire, but Kopp suffered fire-related injuries and was transported Johns Hopkins Bayview Burn Center with burns on around 20% of his body.

Fire Marshals say Kopp admitted that he started the brush fire and drove into it with the intention of committing suicide. He exited the RAV4 when he couldn't stand the extreme heat any longer.

Officials say another driver called 911. The vehicle was a total loss, estimated at $10,000 in damages, according to State Fire Marshals.

Investigators charged Kopp with second degree arson and first degree malicious burning after consulting with the Caroline County States Attorney's Office when Kopp tried filing an insurance claim on the totaled RAV4.

Kopp turned himself in to Deputy State Fire Marshals last Friday and after bond review was released on his own recognizance.