WEAVERVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — A North Carolina car wash is closed after an employee became trapped in the equipment and died, a spokesman for the Texas-based ZIPS Car Wash said.
Police said 26-year-old Carolina Bree Franks died in Weaverville on Saturday, Jan. 13, and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Franks’ grandmother, Ernestine Franks, said she was shocked after the incident. She said Bree Franks had just visited her in Whitesburg, Kentucky.
“She spent the night with me the night before, well, Thursday night,” said Franks. “She was on her way back home Saturday, and we got the call Saturday evening. I could not believe it. I was in shock.”
Ernestine Franks spoke with Michael King, the father of Bree’s boyfriend, with whom she spoke with authorities.
“That’s what they told him: that he had gone to work. She was running to the car, cleaning up, and she was given entangled in a piece of equipment,” Franks said. “And by the time they found out, she was already dead. “
According to Weaverville police, the North Carolina Department of Labor, Safety and Occupational Health (OSHA) has been notified of the incident and is investigating.
Franks said her granddaughter was a lovely woman whom she had raised since she was 6 years old.
“She’s special,” Franks said of the victim. I enjoyed everyone. He enjoyed the animals. She’s just a great young woman. “
ZIPS Car Wash is headquartered in Plano, Texas, and is the largest privately owned car wash operator in the country. A press release from Business Wire states that the company expanded its car wash operations in North Carolina in 2022. The company claims that ZIPS has more than 230 outlets across the country.
ZIPS Corporate spokesperson Sarah Elizabeth posted the following on Monday:
“Our thoughts and prayers are with our team member’s family in this time of loss. This is such an unfortunate tragedy. We are working with local authorities and the North Carolina Department of Labor OSHA throughout the investigation, and our Weaverville site will remain closed at this time.”