Woman backs over gas pump, sparking a fuel-driven fire

INDIANAPOLIS A driver backed up into a gas pump causing a ball of fire at the shell station at 21st and Capital Monday afternoon. The blaze sent three people to the hospital. You could barely make out the make and model of the car through the charred remains. What was once white in color was now black. It was a stunning scene just before rush hour Monday afternoon. "I actually heard more then I saw. I was fueling my car and I heard a loud bang," a witness described. The loud bang was a car slamming into this gas pump. "Fortunately everybody was able to get out. The people that hit the pump, bystanders were able to get the two ladies out. One was sitting in the front seat one was sitting in the back seat," IFD Captain Gregg Harris said. "There was already fire and smoke I couldn't see at all, so I opened the door and then I took her out," witness Cheick Conde said. Firefighters said the driver was parked on angle. She tried to make her way to the gas pump but instead of putting the car in drive she put in reverse. She hit a pole then continued in reverse. The driver then hit a parked car and eventually hit the gas pump. "It was immediately engulfed in flames," a witness said. Employees of the gas station shut off the fuel that travels through the pumps. "Once that was done it cut off the flowing for the fuel and we were able to get this under control very quickly," Captain Harris said. The driver and the passenger of the car were taken to Methodist Hospital with minor injuries. Firefighters said another person at the gas station was also taken to Methodist suffering a medical emergency. The damage is estimated at $125,000.