A Calgary gas retailer wants the province to adopt "pay before pump" legislation after one of its employees was injured in a hit and run Sunday morning.

Calgary police say a Centex employee was chasing down the driver of a Ford Super Duty truck who didn't pay for gas when she was struck in the parking lot of a Home Depot near 16th Avenue and 17th Street N.W.

"A 35-year-old female employee of the gas station tracked down the Ford in the parking lot and attempted to prevent it from driving away by standing in front it," said police. "The Ford struck the woman as it exited the parking lot and carried her on the hood for approximately 15 metres."

The woman fell off into the middle westbound lane of the 1800 block of 16th Avenue before the truck ran over her. She is currently in serious condition at the Foothills hospital.

Police say the truck was stolen in Airdrie and may have hit two other gas stations this week. They are looking for two male suspects and a brown or maroon truck with Alberta licence plate EUX 378.

Centex says province needs legislation to protect gas station attendants following a hit and run in northwest Calgary. (CBC)

Centex Petroleum issued a statement today saying, "We are devastated by the violent, senseless and ultimately cowardly act perpetrated on our employee early Sunday morning. First and foremost our thoughts and prayers are with the victim and her family. We pray her condition improves and she is able to recover."

President Alnoor Bhura says gas thefts occur every day in Alberta and the company's policy is for employees to call police instead of putting themselves at risk.

"The Government of Alberta has shown very little or no leadership in this matter in the past, even though they have been advised by various chiefs of police to adopt 'pay before pump' legislation. We hope the new government reconsiders this issue and brings forward some much needed legislation and leadership," said Bhura.

Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) is investigating the incident.

Barrie Harrison with OHS says new legislation is not a priority right now.

"Any gas station or gas company is free to implement a system that requires paying for fuel prior to the pump being operational," he said. "They don't require a law to tell them to do that."

Grant's Law: Victim's father reacts

The B.C. government introduced similar legislation after a young man died during a gas-and-dash in Maple Ridge in 2005. Doug De Patie, whose son Grant was killed, lobbied governments across the country to implement Grant's Law.

"I believe that all workers across Canada deserve the same safety precautions as we do in B.C. and it's a simple regulation — pay before you pump — that would have eliminated that crime before it even happened," said De Patie.

De Patie contacted the office of Alberta's labour minister today.

Calgary police also support the idea of pre-pay at the pump legislation.

"Because it's not about dollars and cents, it's about lives and safety," Insp. Ken Thrower said.