Dynamo1
Head of the Swing Shift
Apr 18, 2008 12:47 am US/Eastern
Gas Mix Up Leaves Dozens Of Cars Dead Across N.J.
Diesel Fuel Accidentally Pumped In Place Of Unleaded At Up To 60 Lukoil Stations Around State
FORT LEE, N.J. (CBS) ― There was a destructive delivery to about 60 New Jersey gas station customers on Thursday night. After stopping for fuel, their evening commute came to an abrupt halt.
CBS station WCBS-TV in New York City has learned there appears to have been a problem with the gasoline.
As many as 75 cars died on highways and roads all across northern New Jersey on Thursday night after their gas tanks were inadvertently filled with diesel fuel at Lukoil stations, authorities said.
Drivers filled up, started up then heard a funny sound then their cars and motorcycles came to a dead stop disabled by an apparent bad batch of gas.
For motorcycle riders Jim Palermo and Dan Robbins, fresh full tanks of gas got them nowhere.
"We filled up the tanks and we turn on the bikes …10 seconds later it dies," Palermo said.
Added Robbins: "It kept turning over."
They consider themselves lucky because they weren't on a packed Palisades Parkway when engines conked out. The WCBS-TV chopper recorded scores of vehicles dead with hazard lights flashing could be seen, including the one belonging to Suzy Sammis.
"Forty cars were all broken down on the highway and then there goes my car," Sammis said.
A close look at the fuel coming out of the pumps showed a thin, almost odorless substance, not like regular unleaded at all.
"I heard it was water that was in the gas that was pumped into the tank," Jessica Kalieta said.
Tow trucks zipped back and forth, while drivers were turned away from at least three gas stations, creating a nervous chaos for those on the hunt for good gas.
"I gotta find some place to get gas," La Rose Saxon lamented.
It was a long night for dozens of drivers. Some even took matters into their hands by siphoning out the gas and trying to fix the problem themselves. Others were just stuck … waiting for rides -- their evening fueled by anger and frustration.
Gas station representatives say Lukoil is accepting full responsibility for the contaminated gasoline. Customers are told to contact Lukoil for help with towing, repairs and reimbursements.
Cars were stranded on Route 208 in Fair Lawn, as well as on Route 9W, the Garden State Parkway and the Palisades, officials said.
At just one station on Route 208, 18 cars died after filling up at the station, said Police Sgt. Derek Bastinck. The cars on 9W and the Palisades apparently filled up at a Lukoil station on Fletcher Avenue in Fort Lee, police said.
It was unclear Thursday night how many stations were affected.
Gas Mix Up Leaves Dozens Of Cars Dead Across N.J.
Diesel Fuel Accidentally Pumped In Place Of Unleaded At Up To 60 Lukoil Stations Around State
FORT LEE, N.J. (CBS) ― There was a destructive delivery to about 60 New Jersey gas station customers on Thursday night. After stopping for fuel, their evening commute came to an abrupt halt.
CBS station WCBS-TV in New York City has learned there appears to have been a problem with the gasoline.
As many as 75 cars died on highways and roads all across northern New Jersey on Thursday night after their gas tanks were inadvertently filled with diesel fuel at Lukoil stations, authorities said.
Drivers filled up, started up then heard a funny sound then their cars and motorcycles came to a dead stop disabled by an apparent bad batch of gas.
For motorcycle riders Jim Palermo and Dan Robbins, fresh full tanks of gas got them nowhere.
"We filled up the tanks and we turn on the bikes …10 seconds later it dies," Palermo said.
Added Robbins: "It kept turning over."
They consider themselves lucky because they weren't on a packed Palisades Parkway when engines conked out. The WCBS-TV chopper recorded scores of vehicles dead with hazard lights flashing could be seen, including the one belonging to Suzy Sammis.
"Forty cars were all broken down on the highway and then there goes my car," Sammis said.
A close look at the fuel coming out of the pumps showed a thin, almost odorless substance, not like regular unleaded at all.
"I heard it was water that was in the gas that was pumped into the tank," Jessica Kalieta said.
Tow trucks zipped back and forth, while drivers were turned away from at least three gas stations, creating a nervous chaos for those on the hunt for good gas.
"I gotta find some place to get gas," La Rose Saxon lamented.
It was a long night for dozens of drivers. Some even took matters into their hands by siphoning out the gas and trying to fix the problem themselves. Others were just stuck … waiting for rides -- their evening fueled by anger and frustration.
Gas station representatives say Lukoil is accepting full responsibility for the contaminated gasoline. Customers are told to contact Lukoil for help with towing, repairs and reimbursements.
Cars were stranded on Route 208 in Fair Lawn, as well as on Route 9W, the Garden State Parkway and the Palisades, officials said.
At just one station on Route 208, 18 cars died after filling up at the station, said Police Sgt. Derek Bastinck. The cars on 9W and the Palisades apparently filled up at a Lukoil station on Fletcher Avenue in Fort Lee, police said.
It was unclear Thursday night how many stations were affected.
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