A collapsed canopy is keeping pumps closed at a Monroeville Sunoco station while owners await final word from their insurance company.
The canopy over gas pumps at the 1855 Haymaker Road station collapsed Tuesday night as winds whipped through the region, trapping two vehicles but injuring no one.
Yellow caution tape cordoned the pump area from entrances off Haymaker Road and Route 130. A red truck and silver car that had been trapped under the collapsed awning had been cleared by Thursday morning.
Monroeville Volunteer Fire Department No. 4 Chief Scott Feyes said Tuesday night the situation was safe as the store’s manager turned off gas and electricity to the pumps shortly after the canopy collapsed.
By Wednesday afternoon, customers were able to park on the lot to patronize the convenient store, which remains open.
Monroeville municipal manager Tim Little said the Code Enforcement Department would have inspected the building’s structure when it was built and he was unaware of any complaints or violations related to the property.
“It’s not like we can go around and inspect every commercial property on a regular basis,” he said. “But there’s no reason for us to say that it was not up to code.”
Little was unaware of when the gas station was built and said the Allegheny County Fire Marshal would be investigating the station’s underground tanks and extinguishing systems as part of the process to reopen the gas pumps.
Allegheny County Fire Marshal Chief Matthew Brown said his office is one of several entities investigating the scene to make sure everything is safe.
“That process is ongoing. Until that is complete, the fueling operations are turned off and are safe. The store itself is open and operating,” Brown said.
Tribune-Review’s news partner WPXI reported the gas station’s owners said insurance will cover all the damage and they have calls out to several companies to remove the awning and rebuild.
A manager inside the station’s store who would not provide his name said the owners hope to have the pumps up and running as soon as possible.
KNZ Corporation is listed as the gas station’s owner, according to real estate records. Calls to the owner went unanswered.
The property, originally purchased by Sun Oil Company in 1959, was purchased by KNZ Corporation in June 2013 for $600,000.
Dillon Carr is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Dillon at 412-871-2325, dcarr@tribweb.com or via Twitter @dillonswriting.
