PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. -
A combination of wind and snow blew the roof off a Plattsburgh gas station.
Just hours after closing, the gas station roof collapsed, saving customers and the station attendant from being trapped inside. Fortunately because it happened in the middle of the night, no one was injured.
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The roof at the Sunoco on US Avenue near the Burger King lay folded over the gas pumps Tuesday morning.
"We gassed up here yesterday; it stands out from the road to say the least," Jim VanArman said.
"Really surprised, you know, but I guess Mother Nature can work in mysterious ways," Steven Ormsby said.
In just four days, its snowed 16 inches, that combined with winds in the high 20's on New Year's Eve created the perfect storm.
"The snow was just hurling by my back door so I know the winds were whirling," Ormsby said.
Police say the roof came down around three Tuesday morning. The gas station closes at eleven at night, so while this isn't a great way to start the New Year, fortunately no one was hurt.
"I'm just glad nobody was under there," Ormsby said.
How stable the roof was before the collapse isn't known, but you can clearly see the heavy snowfall that's piled up.
"A lot of force right there to twist those beams," VanArman said.
Police say the collapsed roof isn't suspicious and that they aren't aware of any accident. The power's been shut off, barricades are set up... now it's up to the owner to clean up and re build.
Police say this investigation is closed, but they're still tallying up how much the damage will cost.
