Imagine getting a call Saturday night from your roommates telling you your car was ablaze outside your apartment.

For Jessica Bates, this was exactly what happened.

Bates, a senior in English and resident of 182 E. 13th Ave., received a call from her roommate late Saturday telling her that her 1996 Plymouth Neon was being set on fire by rioters.

“I was at a party and my roommates told me not to come home because the car was on fire, and tear gas was everywhere,” Bates said. “They were like, ‘Your car is definitely flipped.’ “

Bates’ car is now at the police impound undergoing arson investigation. All that remains of her property is a charred hood ornament.

“My mom went to Michigan, and all she could say was, ‘Typical OSU,’ ” Bates said.

Bates said she is hopeful her insurance company will cover the damage.

“It just sucks that such a great thing happened on Saturday, and people turn around and are so disrespectful of other people’s properties,” Bates said.

“They asked me if I wanted to prosecute, and all I could say was, ‘Hell yes,’ ” she said.

In response to the rioters, Bates is nothing short of livid.

“I would just like to flip you over and light you on fire,” she said.

Bates’ neighbor, Nicholas Ciapetta, a sophomore in engineering who lives at 175 E. 13th, had his 1997 Dodge Avenger flipped as well.

“Mine was one of the few not set afire because you can’t access my gas tank from the outside, so rioters couldn’t stuff rags into it like they had the other cars,” Ciapetta said.

Ciapetta’s car was towed to the police impound lot as well. He was allowed to see his car — unlike Bates, who has yet to see hers.

“It looked like it had been at a monster truck rally,” he said.

Like Bates, Ciapetta wasn’t home at the time his car was flipped.

“I didn’t even know anything was going on until I got to about 15th Avenue and the tear gas and smoke was so thick,” he said.

Ciapetta’s parents were upset as well.

“They knew, though, there was nothing I could do,” he said. “Now we just have to wait to hear from State Farm Insurance Agency.”

The claims adjuster was set to see Ciapetta’s car yesterday.

Ryan Young, a junior in information systems and resident of 171 E. 13th Ave., saw his car meet a similar fate.

“I was at a friend’s house on 15th, and someone said cars were on fire on 13th, so I ran home,” Young said.

“When I looked, all I saw was a car flipped on top of mine, and all that was left was a bit of a frame and one rim,” he said.

Young had gotten his car back just two days earlier. His parents had presented him with an early Christmas gift of new tires and $1,000 worth of work — all destroyed in the fire.

“I couldn’t even recognize my car,” he said. “And that car was my first. I loved it.”

Like fellow victims of the rioters, Young is upset about the destruction.

“I want to see all of these kids prosecuted to the fullest extent,” he said. “They should be the ones paying for the damage, and we shouldn’t be left to do battle with the insurance companies.”

Bates and Young have yet to hear from their claims adjusters about what kind of repayment they will receive.

“They still have to investigate, and it could take a couple of weeks to a couple of months, depending on prosecutions,” Young said. “All I know is I have to pay a $250 deductible.”

Bates is still waiting for an answer.

“I know we have comprehensive coverage,” she said.

Comprehensive insurance pays for the loss of or damage resulting from fire, wind, hail, flood, vandalism, riot or civil commotion, explosion or earthquake, as well as impact from an animal, according to Nationwide Insurance.

“If you have comprehensive insurance, you are covered for fire and vandalism,” said Dave Sichko, an agent for Nationwide Insurance. Collision or liability insurance will not cover the actions resulting from the riot, he said.

“Many students on campus have older cars, and they only have liability on them — and with only liability the students wouldn’t be covered,” Sichko said.

The process of getting repayment can be difficult as well.

“The policy holder first contacts (the insurance representative), then we get in touch with the claims reporter, we assign an adjuster, and then the adjuster contacts the person filing the claim,” Sichko said.