According to a suspect's statement to the  Glendale Police Department,  he was attempting to commit suicide when he drove into a tanker truck at 8:30 a.m. Feb. 12 near 57th Avenue and Camelback Road in Glendale.

The suspect, Joushua Denton, 27, told police he wanted to kill himself, so he purposely drove into the tanker thinking he would blow up/explode.

After the crash, he realized the tanker - carrying liquid oxygen - did not blow up, so he took a lighter and began lighting his Hyundai Elantra  on fire.  Around this time Glendale Police showed up.

Denton said he then charged towards the officers with the intent to commit suicide by cop hoping the police would shoot him (which did not happen). Instead, police used Tasers to subdue him and took Denton into custody after a struggle.

According to AZFamily.com, two people inside the tanker truck were able to escape as it went up in flames. Another driver involved in the crash was hospitalized with minor injuries, as a Jeep Grand Cherokee and a Mazda 3 were damaged by the collision.

Denton was then taken to the hospital with minor injuries and was cleared medically, and then transported to the MCSO Jail.

The tanker was doused with water and the spill contained. According to AZFamily, nearby businesses and apartment complexes were evacuated due to the large amount of smoke and the possibility of an explosion.

Denton has been charged with arson of an occupied structure, arson of a property, aggravated assault, endangerment and criminal damage.