Elements of Chicago skilled a significant site visitors backlog on Thursday as automobiles lined up within the streets to get free fuel as a part of a $200,000 gasoline giveaway.

A number of photographs and movies posted on social media confirmed vehicles lined up ready without spending a dime fuel after Chicago businessman Willie Wilson introduced that he was donating $200,000 in fuel to a number of gasoline stations throughout town as fuel costs have continued to rise in Chicago and different areas throughout the nation.

"Drivers have flooded the streets, backing up site visitors, arguing with one another and honking. However these ready in line mentioned it was value it as a result of fuel has gotten so costly," Ebook Membership Chicago's Twitter account wrote.

George Mycyk of NBC Chicago shared a video of the site visitors jams the place vehicles could be seen lined up within the streets.

"Site visitors gridlock at Grand and Pulaski as folks wait in line for $50 of free fuel courtesy of Willie Wilson," Mycyk wrote.

WGN TV Information additionally shared a video of the site visitors jams seen throughout town.

"Site visitors is backed up close to 91st and Stony Island as folks attempt to get to the CITGO fuel station to get free gasoline courtesy of Willie Wilson," WGN TV Information wrote in a tweet.

The giveaway allowed prospects to rise up to $50 value of free fuel at ten totally different fuel stations till the $200,000 donation was exhausted. In keeping with the American Vehicle Affiliation (AAA), fuel costs in Prepare dinner County, Illinois, had been round $4.71 and the common throughout the state was $4.53.

"The hovering value of fuel has precipitated a hardship for too lots of our residents. The typical value of normal fuel has gone effectively over $4 a gallon for the primary time in almost 14 years and is now up almost 50 p.c from final 12 months. The conflict in Ukraine, a ban on Russian oil, and excessive taxes are contributing to rising gasoline costs," Wilson mentioned in a Fb submit.

One other video posted on Twitter confirmed Wilson at one of many fuel stations included within the giveaway pumping gasoline for a buyer.

"Wilson is doing it as a result of 'individuals are struggling,'" Joanie Lum of Fox 32 Chicago wrote in a tweet displaying Wilson pumping fuel.

Whereas talking with Ebook Membership Chicago, Wilson mentioned that he plans to carry one other fuel giveaway on March 31.

"And we will include rather more than $200,000," Wilson informed Ebook Membership Chicago. "There is a want."

Newsweek reached out to the Chicago Police Division for touch upon the site visitors jams however didn't obtain a response in time for publication.

Gas station
A whole lot of Chicago residents waited in line without spending a dime fuel on March 17, 2022, after Chicago businessman Willie Wilson donated $200,000 value of free fuel to a number of fuel stations. Above, motorists are seen ready in line line at a station within the Humboldt Park neighborhood on March 17, 2022, in Chicago, Illinois. Scott Olson/Getty