$1.99 gas promotion draws crowds in Worcester

The lines stretched for miles for the gas deal yesterday, and Sandra Fleuran of Worcester wasn't happy about being cut off by another driver while she waited. (Paul Kapteyn/Worcester Telegram & Gazette via Associated Press)

As consumers struggle with soaring gasoline prices, a Worcester gas station and Digital Federal Credit Union teamed up yesterday for a promotion that helped save local residents some cash at the pump. Beginning at 7 a.m., Pleasant and Park Gulf Station in Worcester offered gas at only $1.99 per gallon, about half the usual current price.

People began queuing up at the station about 5 a.m., station manager Hassan Yatim said. Cars were turned away at 11:30 a.m. because the line had become 2 to 3 miles long. The last car was filled up at about 1:45 p.m.

That last lucky motorist was Lorraine Vandal, 75, of Spencer. She stopped on her way back from the dentist, and said she saved $15.50 when she got a half-tank of gas in her Ford Taurus after waiting "a couple of hours." "I think it was wonderful and a lot of others did, too, because that line was long," Vandal said.

Yatim said that about 600 to 700 vehicles came to the station for the gas promotion. "Somebody fills up today and it's $60 [when] it would normally be $120," he said.

John LaHair, public relations manager for the credit union, said that all kinds of vehicles pulled up, too, including two RVs and a boat. But that was not a problem, he said. "If you drive it, we can finance it, so we can fill it."

The credit union is based in Marlborough and has two branches in Worcester. It decided to fund the special to promote its company and to give back to Worcester residents. It did a similar promotion two years ago.

"We wanted the opportunity to ease that pain at the pump that everyone is facing," LaHair said.

The credit union sent out an announcement to members who live in the area Monday afternoon alerting them to the deal. News then spread by word of mouth, LaHair said, adding that people came from all across Worcester County and the rest of the state.