Virginia Firefighters Face Truck Versus Gas Pump in Fire

Jan. 6, 2006
A Toyota pickup traveling at a high rate of speed, veered off the road and crashed into a fuel pump.

Carson and Prince George Company 1 firefighters were kept busy on Thursday, January 5 around 1100 hours, when a Toyota pickup traveling at a high rate of speed, veered off south Crater Road and crashed into a fuel pump at a Shell Station at Crater Road and I-95.

Carson Fire Chief Steve Wilcox said the vehicle's impact sheered off the gas pump and sparked a blaze.

Wilcox explained that this act of sheering off was actually what was suppose to happen in case of impact. That when a pump is sheered off it triggers a safety valve that stems fuel flow.

The fuel that ignited was from the top stream already in the pump and fire erupted in the car's engine.

Station employees used seven fire extinquishers to no avail to battle the inferno, which after having no success finally retreated from the flames and surrendered the job to experienced firefighters who quickly arrived on the scene.

Carson and Prince George firefighters performed a quick knock down of the blaze.

The firefighters prevented any damage to the canopy or other property. No civilians or firefighters were injured from the fire.

Prince George Emergency Crew were summoned for an emergency situation with the driver of the Toyota, not fire related.

Prince George Police said the driver who was reported as driving at a high rate of speed, after crashing, exited his vehicle and was seen walking along the gas station building, then began acting in an unusual manner by picking up containers of fluid located on the outside wall and drinking from them. The Emergency Crew was then summoned.

Police have not released the condition of the driver after his unusual behavior or information on whether he will be charged in the accident.

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