I see no great mystery here.
- Gas is sometimes sold as a loss leader, particularly by stations attached to convenience stores, as the profit margins for convenience stores are relatively generous.
- A gas station owner with some cash to burn might well embark on a little price war, particularly when prices peak, to put some pressure on competitors.
- During a surge in gas prices, it may be profitable in the long run to sell gas at a loss in order to build customer loyalty.
These all boil down to the simple principle that it sometimes makes economic sense to sell a product at a loss for a short period. Happens all the time, and a "crisis" is an ideal time to do it, since you get free advertising from media attention and word of mouth.