Gas station fire leads to lawsuit

YOUNGSTOWN — The owner of a West Side gasoline station where an explosion and fire erupted on Jan. 21 has sued a gasoline wholesaler, a gasoline pump servicing company and the station’s insurance company in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.

Hayes Management Inc., owner of the USA Gas Mart, 667 S. Meridian Road, where the fire occurred, sued C&K Petroleum Products Inc. of New Waterford, the wholesaler the suit says was delivering gasoline from a tanker truck to the station’s underground storage tanks; Petro-Com Corp. of North Ridgeville, which the suit says was servicing the station’s pumps; and Nationwide Insurance Co. of Columbus, the station’s insurance company.

The suit alleges C&K overfilled the tanks, causing gasoline to overflow onto the ground, and that a Petro-Com representative triggered sparks that ignited the overflowing gasoline. The suit alleges C&K and Petro-Com were negligent and reckless. Hayes says Nationwide failed to fully compensate the station for the fire damage.

The lawsuit, which seeks more than $25,000 in damages and demands a jury trial, was filed by Atty. Matthew C. Giannini and is assigned to Judge Lou A. D’Apolito. The fire damage forced the station to close for several weeks, Giannini said.

The pump repairman suffered facial burns from the explosion and checked himself into a local hospital, according to fire Capt. Rich Russo. The fire appeared to be caused by sparks coming from a motor while he repaired the pump, Russo said.

Firefighters used foam and water to fight the blaze; and a salt truck was called because the water froze on the ground.

Officials with the three defendants did not respond to requests for comment.