A 18-year-old driver was killed after crashing into a fuel pump that burst into flames at a Dania Beach gas station Tuesday night, authorities said.
The incident happened at the BP Gas on the Southeast 7th Street and South Federal Highway around 9:20 p.m., Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue officials said.
According to BSO investigators, Jose Romeo was traveling west on 7th Street in a 2005 Ford Mustang when he lost control after going over a speed hump, sending the car between two gas pumps before it caught fire. The impact was so strong the gas pump almost ended up on the road.
Firefighters responded and were able to put out the fire within minutes using foam, but they were unable to get Romero out and he was declared dead at the scene.
"I turned around looking for another fire extinguisher and on the wall was the emergency shutoff, and I ran over and hit it and all the power cut to the pumps and the overhead lighting, and by that point the flames were just too much for the powder fire extinguishers to do anything," witness Scott Robb said.
"There wouldn't have been any possible way that the victim could've gotten out of the car because the car was fully involved, it was all engulfed in flames," said Michael Wolf, a witness to the crash.
No one was pumping gas at the time of the crash. Officials believe speed played a factor in the crash, but their investigation continues and an autopsy will be performed.
