A hit and run accident cost a Fort Smith gas station thousands of dollars. The Short Stop Truck Stop is offering a $250 reward for information that leads to an arrest and conviction.
Surveillance video shows a white SUV crash into a gas pump and drive off. The apparent hit and run took less than 10 seconds. “He could have killed somebody,” said Sean Taks, general manager for Jam Mart Stores, “If we would have had somebody standing right here pumping gas he could have run that person over. Thank goodness that didn’t happen.”
The accident happened around 11:57 p.m. Wednesday. Taks already had the broken pump removed, but walked 5NEWS cameras through the surveillance video. “Then he kind of swerved, you can see his tire marks how close he came, how close he came to hitting this one and then kind of swerved off and went that way,” said Taks.
“We’re lucky that the safety valves went off and there wasn’t an explosion. Obviously it’s never a good thing to have a fire on gasoline,” said Tyson Washburn, district manager.
The driver damaged a pillar holding up an awning. Taks estimates the suspect caused between $10,000 and $20,000 worth of damage. “It’s a shame that you have to do something, this kind of damage and hit and run,” said Taks, “That’s why we have insurance and we can’t take care of this stuff legally.”
Taks wants the person responsible caught. If you can help Fort Smith police catch the driver call River Valley Crimestoppers at 78-CRIME. You will remain anonymous and could be eligible for a cash reward.