A tragic accident at the Zips Car Wash in Weaverville, North Carolina took the life of a 26-year-old woman, Carolina “Brea” Franks. The incident happened on the evening of January 13.
Franks, who had been working at the car wash for about five months, became entangled in the car wash machinery, which resulted in her death. Franks, a Buncombe County resident, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to authorities.
On the day of the accident, Franks was not initially scheduled to work. Her grandmother, Ernestine Franks, revealed that Carolina had stepped in for a coworker who was unable to work that day. Ernestine, who had cared for Carolina since she was six, said that her granddaughter had just come back from a visit to her in Kentucky only a few hours before the accident.
The Weaverville Police Department and the North Carolina Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) are jointly investigating the circumstances surrounding the accident. They are trying to determine how Franks became entangled in the machinery and the exact cause of her death.
Zips Car Wash, a Texas-based company with over 230 locations across the United States, extended their sympathies through their spokesperson, Sarah Elizabeth Falanga. Falanga assured the company’s commitment to safety and its full cooperation with the ongoing investigation. The Weaverville branch has been temporarily closed in deference to Franks and the affected employees.
Franks is remembered as a hardworking and cheerful individual. Her obituary recalls her as a person who brought light into the lives of many and was deeply loved by those who knew her. It also mentions her fondness for animals and her lively spirit. Franks is survived by her fiancé, Michael King, her grandmother, and a host of extended family and friends.