Fast-acting bystanders helped prevent a potential catastrophe after a vehicle struck a fuel pump at the Fred Meyer gas station in Palmer Tuesday afternoon.
Just before 4 p.m., Frederick Anderson, 70, of Palmer, was traveling southbound on the Glenn Highway in a gold Chevrolet Equinox, according to the Palmer Police Department, when the vehicle abruptly turned left, plowed over a curb and fence, and into the gas station. The Equinox hit one of the fuel pumps and struck a Jeep Cherokee, which was pushed into a Ford F250. The Equinox came to a stop next to the store portion of the station.
Palmer Fire Chief John McNutt said there was a small fire, which was extinguished by bystanders before authorities arrived.
“People acted quickly,” Palmer Police Chief Lance Ketterling said later Tuesday evening. “For all fueling points, fire is a primary concern.”