By Associated Press - Wednesday, October 16, 2019

NEW YORK (AP) - A 9-year-old student has been hospitalized after being badly burned at a Brooklyn charter school.

Police say the young girl claims she found a lighter in a bathroom stall and accidently ignited her uniform.

It happened Wednesday afternoon at the Excellence Girls Charter School Elementary Academy in Bedford-Stuyvesant.



Police say a teacher heard her screams, and with the help of others, used a jacket to smother the flames.

Police say the girl suffered burns to her upper body and was hospitalized in serious but stable condition.

A spokeswoman for the school released a statement saying they are working with authorities.

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