Apr 18, 2008 5:31 pm US/Eastern
Lukoil Blames H2O Contamination For NJ Gas Mix-Up
Compromised Gas Shipped To 9 N.J. Locations
FORT LEE, N.J. (CBS) ―
Gas station chain Lukoil on Friday blamed water contamination for bad gas served at least seven stations across New Jersey that left dozens of motorists stranded.
The company was working to reopen stations in North Jersey Friday after reports of stall-outs on roadways across Bergen, Essex and Monmouth counties, said OAO Lukoil spokesman George Wilkins.
"We are working around the clock to test, remove, and replace all affected products," Wilkins said.
NuStar Energy of Linden said it had verified 11 truckloads of the tainted product had been shipped to stations in Wall Township, Whiting, Bloomfield Parkway North and South, Fairlawn, Fort Lee, Melton, Newark and Bellville.
A spokesperson for Lukoil released this statement on Friday:
"We determined that the problem was caused by excessive concentrations of water in storage tanks at an exchange partners terminal. Lukoil is working with affected drivers to insure prompt repairs and reimbursement for car rentals."
As many as 75 cars died on highways and roads all across northern New Jersey on Thursday night.
Drivers filled up, started up then heard a funny sound. Then, victims of the contamination say, 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. From Chopper 2 HD 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.
(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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