Instagram Sensation Sparks Gas Station Gridlock After Splurging $10,000 on Fuel

PHOENIX — A generous act turned chaotic at an ARCO gas station when a man on social media claimed to have put $10,000 in credit on the pumps. Juan Gonzalez, known as @thatwasepic on Instagram, made the announcement on Sunday afternoon, prompting a flood of drivers to rush to the location.

The post features Gonzalez standing in front of the gas station located at 16th Street and Thomas Road. His message requested that people fill their vehicles only, leaving the pumps in place for others to use without resetting them.

As the influx of customers grew, traffic congestion ensued, drawing the attention of Phoenix police. Authorities subsequently advised motorists to steer clear of the area while they worked to manage the situation. Gonzalez documented his experience, noting the lines of cars and police presence via his Instagram story.

In a video, Gonzalez explained the urgency of the situation. “We did help out as many people as we could before they got here,” he said, acknowledging the rising danger and obstruction for emergency vehicles. “But it’s getting too dangerous; the streets are backed up, and they’re telling me that ambulances can’t get through.”

Although Phoenix police did not explicitly state that the event was shut down, they mentioned collaborating with the event coordinator to alleviate the traffic. Prior to this incident, Gonzalez had also provided a similar $10,000 credit at Juanderful Tacos on Camelback Road, which he posted about on Friday.