The Route 3 Shell attendant said he'd just filled the driver's tank with $25 worth of gas and requested payment around 4:40 p.m. when the thief drove off, Detective Lt. Robert Bracken said.
The 56-year-old attendant ran toward the westbound highway's shoulder to try and stop him but was struck by the gray, older-model Nissan Sentra, Bracken said.
The driver kept going, leaving the injured attendant on the side of the highway, he said.
Witnesses stopped and helped the attendant until emergency service workers arrived.
The driver was described as a dark skinned -- either black or Hispanic -- in his late teens or early 20s.
Anyone who saw something at the time or has information that can help police find the driver is asked to call Clifton detectives: (973) 470-5908.
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