Woman Wants Citgo Station To Pick Up Tab For Damage Caused By Bad Fuel
MIDLAND PARK, N.J.(CBSNewYork) -- A Bergen County gas station is under investigation for allegedly selling contaminated fuel.
As CBS 2's Hazel Sanchez reported, a woman said that her gas tank was filled with water, and now she wants the station owner to pay.
Adrienne Roetman said that her nightmare began when she filled her car's nearly empty tank with contaminated gas from a Citgo station in Midland Park, New Jersey. It didn't take long for the car to die.
"It just died. I mean, it wouldn't start." she said.
Roetman was driving a one-year-old Mazda3. A Mazda dealership mechanic said that the engine died because the gas tank had been filled with water.
Midland Park police have had to rescue more than a dozen stranded drivers, but gas station management blamed the problem on a bad fuel delivery.
Mechanics said that Roetman's car needed new fuel pumps and injectors. The repairs cost more than $3,000.
Station owner Mohit Chopra took responsibility for the damage, but told Roetman, via email, that he would not pay her bill.
"We cannot issue a check for an unreasonable bill. Any auto expert can explain that in a case of bad gas replacement of parts is not required," the note read.
Roetman said that Chopra initially agreed to pay the bill and then rescinded his offer. Station management said that the owner paid for the damage to all other affected cars.
"I do not have the money to put out to pay for all these expenses that your gas station has incurred on me," Roetman said.
The Bergen County Division of Weights and Measures inspected the station and confirmed that it had sold contaminated gas, but had since been cleaned.
They said that the owner was not issued a violation, but could be if it is found out that he did not properly reimburse affected customers.
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