Old man dies after his electric wheelchair engulfs in flames

A retiree died after his electric wheelchair caught fire and he could not get out, authorities said.

Harold Jump, 63, was engulfed in flames and suffered burns over more than 75 percent of his body, said county coroner's spokesman Craig Harvey on Thursday.

Jump was pronounced dead Wednesday at a Los Angeles hospital, Harvey said.

The wheelchair motor apparently touched off the blaze, the AP says.

"His wheelchair started to catch on fire, and he just couldn't get out of his wheelchair," said Assistant Fire Chief Mark Bennett of the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

A neighbor heard the man's screams and an emergency call brought firefighters to the man's home at about 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Bennett said.

"When we responded, he was fully engulfed in flames," Bennett said. "It's horrible."

Fire officials declined to say what disability the man had.