Gas station in Chepachet deals with allegedly contaminated gas

CHEPACHET, RI — A petrol station in Chepachet is still selling petrol after complaints about contaminated fuel.

However, it was not the type of gasoline that caused problems for drivers.

NBC 10 stopped at Yatco Gasoline on Putnam Pike in Chepachet around 1 p.m. Wednesday and found orange cones preventing cars from refueling.

Local residents said on Tuesday that their motorcycles broke down after they filled up with petrol at Yatco.

They claimed the fuel was watery gasoline.

Most of their pumps had bags above the nozzles for out-of-service pumps.

Some locals said the gas station sold 10 gasoline about an hour before NBC arrived.

NBC 10 called around 3 p.m. Wednesday and an employee said they were selling premium gasoline at regular gas prices.

The purchase of premium gasoline was also restricted for customers on Wednesday.

NBC 10 emailed and called the Department of Environmental Management and was told they have jurisdiction over situations like this.

A DEM representative said they are gathering information and will get back to us as soon as they have all the details.

NBC 10 received a flood of calls from people who said their vehicles also broke down after purchasing gas from Yatco on Tuesday.

We have also contacted the consumer protection authority of the Federal Prosecutor General.

The office said staff are reviewing the matter and directing all complainants to the consumer complaint form on its website.

The owner of the Yatco gas station commented on the matter on Wednesday.

He said he would never intentionally sell contaminated gasoline and wants to tell his side of the story.

NBC 10 contacted him.