By Alabama Public Radio
Fort Payne, AL – A Fort Payne gas station owner was hit and killed when he attempted to stop a driver from leaving his fuel pump without paying for $52 in gasoline. Fort Payne Police Chief David Walker says Husain Caddi died Friday from his injuries shortly after being taken to Baptist Medical Center-DeKalb in Fort Payne. A search for the driver continues. Walker says the case is being investigated as a robbery-homicide. Witnesses told police that Caddi grabbed onto the vehicle when its driver began to drive off without paying. The 54-year-old owned the Fort Payne Texaco. The driver apparently dragged Caddi across the parking lot and onto U-S- Highway 11. Caddi fell from the vehicle and was run over by the vehicle's rear wheel. Police are looking for a gold, brown or tan, late model sport utility vehicle that resembles a Jeep Liberty or Ford Explorer. The driver could be in his 20s or 30s. Gas prices recently have surged to a nationwide average of $2.55 cents a gallon.