Washington area motorists were in for a pleasant surprise over the weekend with the arrival of gas prices below the three dollar mark.

As Jessica Forres reports the falling prices put smiles on the faces of customers at one gas station in Frederick, Maryland.

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[NAT: MAAM OVER HERE BEHIND THE VAN.]

Wearing a fluorescent, orange safety vest, Kathy Potthof directs traffic at the Costco gas station in Frederick...where the price of regular gasoline is two dollars and ninety two cents.

SINCE FRIDAY IT'S BEEN LIKE THIS UH IT WAS WORSE FRIDAY.

More than thirty cars waited in six lines to fill up Sunday afternoon. Erik Moore…a senior in high school…finally made it to the pump.

[NAT: GAS SOUND]

IT'S USUALLY LOWER THAN EVERYWHERE ELSE BUT I DIDN'T KNOW IT WOULD BE THIS LOW.

John Townsend is a spokesperson for Triple A Mid-Atlantic. He says the price of crude oil has plummeted in the last week…causing gas prices to follow suit.

AND IT'S CONCEIVABLE THAT IF CRUDE KEEPS DROPPING, WE MAY SEE GASOLINE PRICES AT 2.20, 2.30 A GALLON AND MAY BE VERY CLOSE TO TWO DOLLARS A GALLON.

The average price of gasoline in the Washington region is three dollars and thirty nine cents a gallon…down 19 cents since last month.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 News