Florida Gas Station Video Shows Pickup Driver Snapping, Attempting to Run Down Clerk

A Chevy Silverado owner in Florida snapped and attempted to run down a gas station attendant following a heated argument about fuel pumps. Frankly, we can’t imagine how anyone could be unhappy with fuel prices being so low, but this is Florida, a state whose motto of “In God We Trust” seems far less fitting than my proposed alternative of “Check This Out.”

America’s infamous panhandle is a wellspring of weirdness and, in true Florida fashion, the latest event is as terrifying as it is hysterical. While attempting to assault someone with a motor vehicle holds little humor in itself, watching that person fail as their agitated target (who had to get in the last word) takes a near-perfect pratfall offers so much instant relief, the mind can’t help itself.

The incident began when 34-year-old Brandon Bingaman needed to refuel his truck and chose a spot near Panama City. Accounts allege that Bingaman got into a heated argument with the clerk after going inside to pre-pay for fuel. The truck owner apparently forgot to tell her he wanted diesel and had issues after returning to his pickup. Things worsened from there, with video footage showing the argument continuing outside before the pickup swings around and attempts to ram her in front of the store’s entrance.

This is when the magic happens. Barricades designed to prevent just such an incident manage to stop the Silverado from turning her into paste while she falls perfectly backwards against the door. While one can’t help but laugh, repeat viewings show exactly how close the clerk was from taking a permanent vacation. We’ve no clue how she stopped herself from diving out of the way, though the surveillance footage is definitely richer for it.

Local outlet WVIR-TV reported that the Bay County Sheriff’s Office has already taken Bingaman into custody and charged him with aggravated assault. He fled the scene after the incident, but witnesses and video evidence helped identify him. Law enforcement also verified that the argument become heated long before either of them went back outside and the truck was used as weapon — with Bingaman complaining about his wife while paying, then bickering with the clerk about getting the pumps working.

While attempted murder charges are a possibility, the Chevy nose-dives before smacking into the parking bollards. The driver may have been only attempting to scare the clerk but, boy, what a bad way to go about it. It also doesn’t look like he would have had sufficient room to stop had the barricades not been there.

The fracas occurred on May 6th; authorities took possession of Mr. Bingaman less than a day later. The clerk claims the man was not specific about what type of fuel he wanted and became furious after he realized she didn’t turn on the diesel pump. From there, she claims to have activated the applicable nozzle, though the pickup owner continued having issues and ultimately demanded a refund. The ensuring argument between them seemed to be the final straw for Bingaman, and you can see the clerk offing a few angry words seconds before he comes back with the truck.

[Image: WVIR-TV/YouTube]