MODESTO – Several motorists were left with disabled vehicles Tuesday night after pumping gas at a local gas station.
Emily Gomes said she pumped gas in her vehicle at the Arco at the intersection of Coffee Road and Orangeburg Avenue at about 8:15pm. After finishing, her vehicle died as she drove out of the station.
While waiting for a tow truck, she noticed another customer who pumped gas also suffered the same problem. Gomes said he didn’t even make it out of the lot.
In the time spent waiting there, Gomes said at least eight or more people came to the station with the same problem. During a phone call Wednesday, she said they began to warn other customers who were arriving to pump gas about what was happening. They urged the attendant to shut the pumps off, who did so about an hour later she said.
About a dozen or so customers returned the next day to speak to a manager about what to do. Gomes said her car still wouldn’t start, and she would have to have it examined.
A truck was at the service station Wednesday morning pumping out the fuel tanks. A man in a safety vest directed people to a flyer inside of the station. He confirmed the truck was there to pump out the fuel tanks.
The source of the problem was unclear, but Gomes believed the gas was contaminated, and that there were other Arco locations affected as well. At least one other Arco station had their pumps taped off Wednesday, this one on Crows Landing Road.
Gomes described the entire incident as an inconvenience, and expressed her frustrations over the incident.
So what happens if you or someone you know was affected by the gas? Here is a list of what you need to put together:
- A written statement of the incident. (Must include product purchased and date of purchase/timeline of general events, etc.)
- Proof of BP branded fuel purchase. Fuel receipt or credit card statement that includes dollar amount spent.
- Itemized mechanic’s repair invoice.
- A towing receipt, taxi receipt, rental car receipt of applicable.
Anyone affected who would like to initiate a claim process can contact BP at 1-800-333-3991.
