April 20, 2022

_1JF0241 — Work crews install new pumps at Leaders Sunoco in Chadds Ford. The old pumps were destroyed in the Sept. 1 flood.

Leaders Sunoco has been unable to pump gas for more than seven months because of the Sept. 1 flooding from Hurricane Ida. The pumps were destroyed after being underwater. And now, while gasoline service is still an estimated week away, the station is one step closer because the new pumps were installed on Wednesday, April 20.

The extra week’s delay is due to the need for having the new pumps synched with the point-of-sale system and the fact that they need an L&I inspection. Owners Jim and Dan Leader had hoped the synching and inspection could have been done the same day as the installation, but the extra week isn’t a problem, all things considered.

“We’ve waited this long, another week isn’t bad,” Jim Leader said.

Dan Leader added that even though the gasoline in the tanks wasn’t contaminated, Sunoco is sending fresh product.

About Rich Schwartzman

Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.

Police Log April 20: Cat food stolen

Police

Pennsylvania State Police

Avondale Barracks

• Police arrested two women, one 86 and the other 59, for stealing $40 worth of cat food from Walmart on April 14. While the names of the suspects were withheld in the report, both are from West Chester.

• State police said they arrested a 53-year-old man from Landenberg on DUI charges following a traffic stop on Limestone Road near Newport Gap Pike on March 14 shortly before 9 p.m. No other details were given other than that police made the stop after observing multiple traffic violations. They did not release the driver’s name.

• A 23-year-old man from West Chester was arrested on DUI charges following a one-car crash. The incident happened on March 18 at 2:20 a.m. on Lenape Road in Pocopson Township. The vehicle, a 1996 Jeep, crashed into a guardrail and then went down an embankment. Police reported no injuries and did not release the driver’s name.

Kennett Square Police Department

Police said Omar Ortega-Martinez, 38, of Richmond, Va., was arrested and charged with DUI and related traffic offenses following a traffic stop for failing to stop for a red light. The incident occurred on April 10, at approximately 11:21 p.m., in the 200 block of North Union Street. After making contact with Ortega-Martinez, officers said they detected a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from inside the vehicle, and field sobriety tests showed impairment. He was taken into custody for suspicion of DUI and submitted to a chemical test of his breath, which showed a blood alcohol level of 0.100 percent. Charges were filed with District Court 15-3-04.