Cops: Car slams into Massapequa Park gas pumps

A fire at a gas station in Massapequa Park that closed down all lanes of Sunrise Highway Sunday afternoon was sparked by a driver who slammed into the pumps, knocking one on to another car that then burst into flames, police and fire officials said.

A driver parked at the pumps at the Gulf gas station at Unqua Road and Sunrise Highway was getting out of her car about 12:45 p.m. when another driver slammed into the opposite side of the pump, said Peter Anglim, chief of the Massapequa Fire Department.

The woman who had exited her car was knocked back into it by the force of the collision, Anglim said, and her car quickly caught on fire. Nassau police said the car’s fuel tank was being filled at the time.

The woman, whom Anglim did not identify, was able to escape her burning car through the passenger door. As the fire engulfed the car and raced up the gas station’s overhead canopy, the station’s automatic extinguishing system did not engage, Anglim said, leaving firefighters to extinguish the blaze.

The woman was taken to a hospital for treatment of minor injuries. Four other people at the scene refused medical aid. Sunrise Highway was closed at Unqua Road in both directions until midafternoon while firefighters fought the fire.

Anglim said the gas station’s fire extinguishing system had recently been inspected and was found to be up to code. He said the fire marshal gave the gas station an order to repair the system.