Gas station attendant dies after gas-and-dash

[S.C. Joe]

Thought this be on here by now, don't you have pay first for the fuel at the gas stations ? That is how it is around here in the states, you either scan your credit card at the pump or go inside to pay for the gas before you pump it. Sure would prevent this from happening

....................................

http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/cri...on-attendant-dies-after-apparent-gas-and-dash

A 44-year-old gas station attendant was killed after he was struck and possibly dragged by a vehicle fleeing the station, Toronto police said.

The driver arrived at a Shell station near Marlee Ave. and Roselawn Ave. just after 9 p.m. Friday where he filled up his tank with $112.85 in fuel. He then allegedly fled the gas station without paying, striking down the attendant in the process and travelled westbound on Roselawn Ave.

The attendant was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries and died shortly after.

Police are treating the case as a vehicular homicide.

Police described the suspect as a white male with a tanned complexion, full beard and short dark hair. The man is 5-feet-8 with a heavy build, weighing between 200 to 240 pounds and was wearing a black three-quarter length jacket, grey pants and black shoes. He was seen driving a light silver or grey sport utility vehicle with a black roof rack, possibly an Isuzu Rodeo with front end damage.

 

[KBear]

Generally you fill your car, then go pay. Sometimes at night in some areas you have to pay first, then fill the car.

 

[Butler1000]

Vehicular homicide. The bastard killed him in the commission of a crime. He should be charged with murder.

 

[Phil C. McNasty]

I bet his conscience is killing him now though (assuming he has one)

 

[benstt]

Thought this be on here by now, don't you have pay first for the fuel at the gas stations ? That is how it is around here in the states, you either scan your credit card at the pump or go inside to pay for the gas before you pump it. Sure would prevent this from happening

Self-serves are mixed. In Toronto, used to be an honour system where you would pump and then pay inside, credit card or cash.

With the pay-at-pump credit card systems, you pay then pump. I think there are many places still where you can pump first, but generally those pumps are close to the attendant, and presumably they can record your license plate if you try to dash.

I saw a comedian once talk about this. Woman from the US drives into Ontario, and comes across the pump-then-pay system. She expressed surprise that Canadians would be so trusting.

 

[S.C. Joe]

Well if more asswipes start just running down the attendant, I'm sure pump and pay will turn in to pay and pump

Sad people can't be more trustful, yes big oil is ripping us off, gas is overprice and there is nothing we can do about it but buy cars that use less gas.

Yes some places would say its murder, I don't agree. The guy was fleeing and somebody jumped in front of him to stop, he panic and kept on going. That isn't the same as planing to kill somebody, IMO

Its fuck up and yes I hope he can never legally drive again but not sure I would lock him up forever like here in the states likely would happen to him. During the day a few are pump first but not many, there has been shoplifters who ran the store guard down, they all got life with no chance of ever getting out

 

[Phil C. McNasty]

Nope, I highly doubt murder would stick in court. Probably manslaughter.

Here's a grainy image of the suspect:

Police say the driver is a white male with a tanned complexion, who has a heavy build, a full beard and short, dark hair. He is 5’8”, between 220 and 240 pounds and was wearing a black, three-quarter length coat, grey pants and black shoes when last seen.

His SUV is either grey or silver in colour, has a black roof rack and is believed to be an Isuzu Rodeo. It likely has front-end damage as a result of the collision.

Anyone with information is asked to contact investigators at 416-808-1300, or to call Crime Stoppers at 416-222-8477

 

[Buick Mackane]

Attendants are pressured by the gas station owner to stop thieves, the money would be taken out of their wage like when a waitress has to cover someone's dine and dash in a restaurant.
The owner deserves some blame for having this policy.

 

[S.C. Joe]

Some people just wanna be a hero and catch the thief red handed

Sure the guy is a jerk, you don't steal $112 of gas to get home, $5 worth, I'm sure it happens

So I could see how when it went over $100 the attendant starting watching him and when he hop right behind the wheel, the attendant went running outside to stop the truck from leaving. Hold on jerk, you owe over $100, I'm not letting you just drive off. (doesn't matter who pays for it, its the principle of it, you are a total jerk and I'm not watching you just drive away)

Well this jerk gas stealing days are over with, they will get him in a few days

 

[Keebler Elf]

Attendants are pressured by the gas station owner to stop thieves, the money would be taken out of their wage like when a waitress has to cover someone's dine and dash in a restaurant.
The owner deserves some blame for having this policy.

I've worked at a gas station and that wasn't the case. Yeah, the manager would be mad if it happened on your shift and he might fire you if it kept happening (what were you doing, sleeping?) but he'd never take it off your pay. As noted above it's illegal to do so. It really depends on the area but in the burbs pumps don't require pre-payment until dusk and if it's a big station then sometimes they'll make the far pumps always require pre-payment. If you live in a shitty area, it might be pre-pay all the time.

Docking pay might happen at an indy gas station but it won't fly at any of the corporate ones.

 

[Phil C. McNasty]

What I dont understand is why some of these gas stations dont have clear, HD security cameras. I mean whats the point in having cameras if you cant see shit?!

And its not like HD cameras are expensive nowadays

 

[Buick Mackane]

I've worked at a gas station and that wasn't the case. Yeah, the manager would be mad if it happened on your shift and he might fire you if it kept happening (what were you doing, sleeping?) but he'd never take it off your pay. As noted above it's illegal to do so.

The manager getting mad at you if it happened on your shift means that there is pressure on you to stop a guy from taking off without paying. He would expect you to confront the driver.

 

[S.C. Joe]

Maybe so but now of days you got many people who want to play police officer. That was my thinking that once it went over $100 all eyes went on him and this attendant wasn't going to let the jerk just drive away scott free

Just like if somebody drove a car 100 km/h down Younge st at 12 noon, there be many people screaming to stop that jerk and trying to play police by video tapping it and maybe walking in front of the car if he slowed down. Money out of their pay check has nothing to do with it

 

[LKD]

What I dont understand is why some of these gas stations dont have clear, HD security cameras. I mean whats the point in having cameras if you cant see shit?!

And its not like HD cameras are expensive nowadays

exactly!! i keep wondering what's the point of these security cameras when you can't see shit!!

 

[S.C. Joe]

They can do better then that fuzzy picture, this is the first day, 2 - 3 days they have a clearer picture of him.

There is such a thing as privacy, why is it needed to see inside your car. I don't want HD video cameras everywhere

 

[Phil C. McNasty]

Wow.. between 2009-2010 there were more than 1600 reports of theft of gasoline in Toronto.

Simple solution.. mandatory prepayment, legislated by the provincial government


http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/cri...on-attendant-dies-after-apparent-gas-and-dash

Yup, I have no problem prepaying my gasoline

 

[bazokajoe]

Yup, I have no problem prepaying my gasoline

+2.........

 

[msog87]

whatever happened to the last big gas n dash death with that gold toyota or w/e? the toronto police said an arrest was imminent yet nothing happened

 

[msog87]

btw, there is a defense to this ( if you remain at the scene) you obviously just say that you forgot to pay, its not your fault the guy ran out and you hit him. a good lawyer could argue this, due to stress or w/e you totally forgot you didnt pay.

 

[Keebler Elf]

The manager getting mad at you if it happened on your shift means that there is pressure on you to stop a guy from taking off without paying. He would expect you to confront the driver.

Yes to the first part but No to the second.

There is pressure on you to pay attention and know when customers are pumping gas and from which pumps. And to pay attention when you see someone jumping in their car to dry off so you can try to get their plate # or at least a description of the car so you can call it in to the police (who knows if they'd even do anything). At night you have to manually approve pumps and most stations close the outside lanes so drivers need to get closer where they can be clearly seen.

But No, you are not expected to confront the driver. To the contrary, you are expected to remain safe and not get into an altercation (ESPECIALLY at night when there aren't a lot of people around) and certainly not jump in front of the car or try to physically prevent the driver from leaving the scene. That's health & safety 101 and no corporation is going to want to get sued by an employee who was instructed to confront a fleeing suspect. It's no different than if you get robbed; you're supposed to cooperate and hand over the cash in the till because your life isn't worth a couple hundred bucks.