Dear gas station attendants: When you get into a business dispute with a customer, try not to get in front of his car. It could end up with you in the hospital. Even a free tank of gas at today's prices ain't worth it.

An argument between a gas man and a motorist over the weekend culminated in a half-mile ride on the hood of a customer's car through the streets of Van Nuys, police said.

The attendant, 51-year-old Jorge Grimaldi of Panorama City, fell off and ended up in a hospital in critical condition, according to an LAPD statement. It all happened …

… Friday about 11 p.m. at an Arco Gas Station in the 15700 block of Victory Boulevard in Van Nuys, according to police.


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According to the LAPD, the gas station guy …

… stood in front of the customer's car and attempted to stop the customer from leaving. The customer drove his car forward and then drove through residential streets for almost a half- mile with Grimaldi hanging on to the hood of the vehicle.

(So, yeah, don't try this at home).

Now, if the driver would have just stopped and called the cops, things might have turned out differently. It could have even been chalked up to a fracas where both parties got to walk away without any stretchers or handcuffs involved.

But now cops say they have a hit-and-run driver “who critically injured a gas station attendant,” according to the statement.

If you think you might know who the driver is, police would love it if you gave them a call: 818-644-8032.

[@dennisjromero/djromero@laweekly.com]

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