Las Vegas NowChaos at Las Vegas Gas Giveaway
A new wireless company's way of advertising turned part of the valley into a traffic nightmare. Drivers lined up for miles to get their shot at free gas. The result, a massive traffic backup for several hours and gridlock for miles, all around the Green Valley Grocery on Flamingo and Jones.
The roads got clogged in a big way as the pumps gave drivers a deal they couldn't pass up. From above, Skywitness 8 captured this traffic nightmare. Down below, drivers, sick of sticker shock at the pump, clogged the gas station.
Fanchon Blackshire was one of the first in line, but her husband stayed far away.
"This is nothing but a rat race to him. So I've been here since seven this morning," she said.
Fanchon was all smiles as her SUV was filled to the top. The gigantic giveaway was first come, first served.
"It is pretty crazy. It's a tough economy right now. Gas pries are high, and we wanted to do something for the community as part of our grand opening," said Jason Biado with Cricket Wireless.
The crowds kept coming and Metro had to call out more officers to control to the traffic trouble.
"I went one way and then I went another way, and all kinds of ways. And now I'm this way," said Brenda Lee.
Some got caught up in the mess and didn't want to be there while others had to be pushed in.
"I just took my chances and just ran out of gas not too long ago," said David Ortega.
Cricket's entry into the Las Vegas market is one that got noticed because of a basic concept.
"If someone is giving out something free, all you have to do is get up out of your bed. If you want it, come and get it," said Blackshire.
And they did come. All $10,000 worth of gasoline was gone in just over an hour. The company has done gas giveaways in other cities. They say with the pumped up prices, this was the biggest one yet.
Cricket Communications says they got permits from Clark County and the Nevada Department of Transportation. They also hired private security guards and three Metro officers, but it took more than three to control the crowds.
