ORANGE – A third-party hauler that mistakenly filled an unleaded gasoline storage tank with diesel fuel at a Shell gas station on Daniel Shays Highway on Sunday has taken responsibility for the error and is making an effort to rectify the situation, according to the director of corporate communications at Honey Farms, which operates a convenience store at that location.
Jaclyn Harrison said anyone who believes their vehicle was affected by the mix-up should send an email to Paul Nestor, of the eMaxx Assurance Group of Companies, at pnestor@emaxxgroup.com.
Area automotive businesses and law enforcement agencies have reported fielding calls since Sunday morning from operators whose vehicles had broken down while driving or had had other types of issues after pumping fuel at the Shell gas station affiliated with Honey Farms just off Route 2. Diesel fuel is thicker than gasoline and can clog fuel injectors and fuel filters. It also can damage catalytic converters and engines if left in a vehicle long enough. It belongs in tractors and vehicles specifically designed for it.
“The fueling station was shut down as soon as the error was discovered,” Harrison wrote in an email. “The tanks were pumped, and the station reopened for business (on Monday).”
Harrison said it appears the Honey Farms location at 167 Daniel Shays Highway is the only one dealing with this type of problem right now.
“These events are referred to as ‘cross drops,’” she said. “They happen accidentally and are, therefore, usually isolated incidents.”
Kathie Cremin, who manages towing operations at Dale’s Auto Body, Towing & Repair in Athol, said on Tuesday that the business had since Sunday morning towed 21 vehicles that became disabled due to being filled with diesel fuel.
“I’ve been here 26 years and I’ve never seen this happen,” she said.
Cremin said Dale’s has towed the vehicles to Sonia’s Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Orange, Mathieu Ford in Winchendon, and Salvadore Chevrolet in Gardner.
Belchertown resident Marion Miller told the Recorder she filled up her 2013 Subaru Outback at the gas station at around 9:30 a.m. on Sunday and within about 10 minutes “the car began to sputter and jerk and finally stopped” just as she had gotten onto a Route 2 on-ramp to try to get to an auto repair shop. She said she called AAA but it took three hours for a tow truck to arrive because AAA was swamped with calls of disabled vehicles in the area. On Tuesday, she said her vehicle was still at Pelham Auto and her mechanic is unsure how much damage was done.
“We just don’t know yet,” Miller said.
Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 262.