Employees fear for safety of customers at Topeka gas station

TOPEKA (KSNT) - Workers at a north Topeka gas station are worried for the safety of their customers because drivers keep using their property as a shortcut near an ongoing construction zone.

Woody’s Gas Express is located at Highway 24 and Kansas Avenue in north Topeka, right across the street from another gas station operated by a national chain. In the few minutes 27 news was there on the morning of Aug. 7, multiple drivers were spotted cutting through Woody's lot to get to the other gas station or back out to the highway.

Employees said the problem started back in April when the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) started construction work on the highway. 27 News spoke with Sara King, a cashier for Woody's, and she said multiple customers and coworkers have been nearly hit.

"No one has actually been hit, but there has been several close calls," King said. "I've actually had to stop a few elderly people that have the canes or walkers and stuff to make them stop because there was a truck or car flying through the parking lot about 40-50 miles an hour." 

KDOT said the Topeka Police Department (TPD) is responsible for enforcing traffic at this location. However, employees say despite calls to the police, nothing has been done to stop the problem.

A spokeswoman for the TPD said they are looking into the matter and working to get us answers.

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