Out-of-control Wrangler ignites fire at convenience store

Spilt coffee and an out-of-control Jeep Wrangler resulted in a gasoline-fueled fire at Marathon last Sunday that produced plenty of flames but thankfully no injuries, according to official reports.
It was just after 6:40 p.m. on January 15 when a Dahlonega woman reportedly jumped a Highway 60 culvert and plowed into a pump at the convenience store popularly known as The Disco Station.
The 39-year-old driver was uninjured but remained in the vehicle as store manager Afzal Kutty leapt into action and battled the blaze.
“His quick thinking saved us,” said store owner Sonika Ahluwalia. “He slammed the emergency stop even before going out and calling 911.”
High-definition security footage shows a fast-acting Kutty working his way through more than one fire extinguisher as he kept the fire contained.
Approximately six minutes later Lumpkin County firefighters arrived at the scene and put the remaining flames out with their own fire extinguisher.
Though hoses were at the ready, they didn’t have to use them.
Lumpkin County Emergency Services Chief David Wimpy said that shutting off the gas resulted in a much more manageable situation for first responders.
“The emergency shutoff valve worked like it should and killed the gas,” he said. “No one was injured. …  All went well.”
Georgia State Patrol Trooper J. Burnett then arrived on the scene and handled the investigation as he determined that the driver was traveling east on Highway 60, drifted off the roadway, struck a culvert and then crashed into the pump with the driver side of the Jeep.
“[The driver] stated that she spilt her drink on her phone and was distracted by attempting to clean it up while she was driving,” stated the GSP report.
The driver was issued a warning for failure to maintain lane and a citation for distracted driving.
Ahluwalia said she would have liked to have seen more stringent repercussions.
“Just literally five-point-five minutes before this there was a gas tanker with 20,000 gallons of fuel right in her path,” she said. “And that’s all she gets away with? A citation and a ticket?”
Throughout the ordeal the Marathon Station never closed down. But it could be a while before the fuel is flowing again.
“It’s a big process,” said Ahluwalia.  “We’re open now. Just no gas, that’s all.”
Since the investigation has resulted in no criminal charges The Nugget has declined to release the driver’s name at this point.
GSP has reportedly concluded the investigation.