ESCONDIDO, Calif. — A man was killed after he became pinned between his vehicle and the machinery at a Southern California automatic car wash, authorities said Saturday.
The 56-year-old was trapped outside his Scion xB hatchback in the Pearl Car Wash, a self-service establishment, at about 11:44 p.m. PDT on Friday, Sgt. Chris Leso of the Escondido Police Department told KNSD-TV.
Leso said that a preliminary investigation indicated that the man drove into the car wash and attempted to exit his vehicle, according to the television station. His vehicle then rolled forward, pinning the man between his car and the machinery, KNSD reported.
The car wash is a 24-hour, automatic, self-serve business, KSWB-TV reported. The driver controls progress, pulling forward and stopping when lights and signage indicate.
The car wash did not appear to have been activated at the time of the accident, Lt. Scott Walters of the Escondido Police Department told The San Diego Union-Tribune.
An alarm blared from the machine for as long as 30 minutes, according to the television station. The man was not discovered until another customer walked over to investigate, KWSB reported. That person called 911.
Officers arrived and lifted the vehicle to free the man, KNSD reported. CPR was administered and the man was taken to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead, Leso told the television station.
The man’s name has not been released, police said.
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