Burning mad
Examiner photo by Matthew Ybarra An alleged altercation between a woman’s uncles and her boyfriend resulted in a fire at Smiley’s in Bedias Thursday, Oct. 10, that resulted burned gas pumps and a Harley Davidson motorcycle.
BEDIAS- A family argument resulted in a motorcycle and gas pumps going up in flames at Smiley’s convenience store in Bedias, Thursday, Oct.
10.
Law enforcement officers stated that a couple was supposed to meet the girl’s father at Smiley’s convenience store, 21925 Texas State Highway 90 in Bedias to retrieve some items. According to officers, the couple were in the process of moving out of a home.
Officers stated that the female had two uncles that were upset with the couple. They went to the store looking to fight the niece’s boyfriend. The boyfriend refused to entertain a physical altercation and remained in the vehicle.
The uncles reportedly left the scene but later returned. “I was pumping gas into my motorcycle when a vehicle came into the parking lot with tires squealing speeding at approximately 30 mph,” explained Brian Houston.
At some point officers said the vehicle hit the gas pump igniting the pump and the motorcycle. “Once the pump and my motorcycle caught fire, I immediately left the area,” said Houston.
Houston lost his 2013 Harley Davidson in the fire. Smiley’s manager Mike Atodoria said that although they will be without gas for an unknown amount of time, he is just relieved that nobody was injured as a result of the fire.
Officers said the quick response of the store employees to hit the emergency-shut-off switch prevented what could have been a situation that was much worse.
The vehicle causing the fire fled the scene. Officers stated the owner of Smiley’s didn’t want to press charges so currently no one has been charged in the incident.