Powder Engulfs Vehicles After Oopsie By Clerk At Vernon Gas Station

VERNON, CT — Two vehicles were covered with powder Saturday when a clerk at a Vernon gas station accidentally activated the emergency fire suppression system at the pumps, police said.

The incident took place At 4:54 p.m. at the 7-Eleven at 180 Union St.

According to a police incident report, a clerk behind the counter hit the button that turns on the emergency system by mistake. That caused the fire suppression equipment to unload clouds of powder from the canopy over the gas pumps, according to a report.

A postal vehicle and a compact sedan were covered with the substance, police said.

Two people were taken to Rockville General Hospital after breathing in residue from the powder, police said.

The activation also caused the Vernon Fire Department to respond.