Vehicle crashes into gas pump in Port Charlotte

Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office Corporal Robert Conant watched as a blue vehicle went airborne and cleared some bushes and crashed into a gas pump.

“At that moment, I knew it was not a good day,” Conant said.

The incident happened after a 72-year-old woman had suffered a medical emergency while driving along US-41 in Port Charlotte causing her vehicle to strike an unoccupied pickup truck, a gas pump and then, a marked Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office vehicle.

FHP is investigating the crash at the Chevron gas station on Melbourne Street. It occurred at around 8:30 a.m.

The crash was captured by surveillance video. The blue minivan hits the curb, then slams into a gas pump. The whole thing then rams into Conant’s sheriff’s office patrol truck.

“As it hit the gas pump it sheared off its base and threw it into my patrol car, but then I pulled up real quick,” Conant said. “I got out, I went to check on the lady who was the only occupant in the vehicle.”

Conant and the has station manager, Joe Kress, went to check on the woman who appeared to be confused.

“She didn’t know where she was or was it just my vehicle. She must’ve had a medical issue,” Kress said.

Conant said he cut the airbags and unbuckled the woman from her seat and pulled her out.

“We got about 2-feet away from the vehicle and I saw fire underneath it,” Conant said.

Conant and other witnesses nearby quickly put the fire out.

Conant’s vehicle will need repairs, but he’s glad the situation was not worse.

“Vehicles can be fixed, people can’t,” Conant said.

The woman in the vehicle was airlifted to Lee Memorial Hospital. Her condition is unknown. FHP said it appeared the woman suffered a medical episode that caused the crash.

The crash remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.