A man in Australia died in a horrific way that could have been avoided.
A tragic accident at a car wash in Springvale, Melbourne, has led to the death of an elderly man. The incident occurred when the man exited his car to input an access code and was subsequently trapped in the car wash’s machinery as the wash cycle began.
Chevron, the international oil company that owns the car wash, has been charged with four breaches of the Occupational Health and Safety Act. The company’s attorneys appeared before the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Monday, April 17.
According to witnesses, the man made a desperate attempt to re-enter his car as the machine began to move, but he only managed to get one foot inside before the car wash trapped him.
The Country Fire Authority arrived on the scene promptly, but it took 16 minutes to free the man from the machinery. Despite being revived by paramedics, he later died of asphyxia due to the extended period of oxygen deprivation to his brain.
WorkSafe Victoria has alleged that Chevron failed to take necessary measures to eliminate risks. The company should have posted warning signs instructing drivers not to leave their vehicles during the wash cycle and failed to implement safety features such as anti-collision bars or systems to detect potential impacts between machinery and obstacles in the wash bay.
According to court documents, Chevron also could have eliminated the risk by installing boom gates that permitted entry to the wash bay only after a valid access code was entered. The company could also have used sensors to detect the presence of vehicles in the wash bay and stop the wash cycle until the vehicle was clear.
In another car wash accident in Colmar, Pennsylvania, a 77-year-old driver crashed through a gate and flipped his car onto its side inside the car wash. Witnesses said they couldn’t even imagine how the car turned over and thought it had never happened before.
It took rescuers about 90 minutes to remove the roof of the vehicle and free the victim, who had been pinned between the car’s body and the door. The driver was taken to the hospital with injuries to his left leg, and the car wash had to close temporarily for repairs. The owner said that he was extremely relieved that no one was seriously injured in the accident.
Incidents like these, however rare they may be, highlight the need for caution when using car wash facilities. Customers should always follow posted instructions and remain in their vehicles throughout the wash cycle. Car wash operators should ensure that their equipment is properly maintained and that appropriate safety measures are in place to prevent accidents.