(COLORADO SPRINGS) — Gasoline was contaminated with diesel due to a delivery mix-up that occurred on Jan. 7 and 8, impacting gas stations across the Denver metro area.
The contamination originated from the HF Sinclair terminal in Henderson, with complaints reported from various gas stations, including Costco, Murphy Express and King Soopers. Zach Hope, Petroleum Program Manager at the Colorado Division of Oil and Public Safety, described the situation as unprecedented in his experience.
State officials have received hundreds of complaints from drivers about the contaminated fuel, leading to investigations to trace the source. “We have not seen it yet in Colorado Springs or Pueblo,” said Hope, noting that the contamination has primarily affected the Denver metro.
The Division of Oil and Public Safety reached out to approximately 3,000 gas station owners across Colorado to address the issue. Cher Haavind, of the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, confirmed that an inspector visually identified the diesel contamination through a sample taken for testing, emphasizing that the color of the fuel provided clear evidence. “The inspector did take a sample, was able to identify just through visual inspection that in fact it was a diesel contamination. And that is because of the color of the fuel,” said Haavind…