Pennsylvania woman gets gift cards after car wash becomes hour-long, claustrophobic ordeal

A routine errand turned into a nightmare for Pennsylvania resident Felicia Sullivan, who found herself trapped inside a malfunctioning car wash for nearly an hour in January. Reported by KABC TV in Los Angeles, the incident illustrates the uncommon but potentially serious hazards of automated car washes like the one that trapped Sullivan.

According to Sullivan, the ordeal began when her vehicle entered the Waynesboro Waterworks car wash. Almost immediately, the automated system malfunctioned, leaving her stuck inside. “I am trapped in the Waysboro Waterworks. Like, I still have soap and everything all over this freaking car,” Sullivan said in the video she took chronicling the situation.

To try and free herself, Sullivan attempted to use the emergency exit button, but it failed to open the doors. Eventually, she had no choice but to call the police for assistance.

The car wash owner also arrived on the scene to help, reportedly washer the soap off Sullivan’s car himself. As compensation for the stressful experience, she was given a collection of gift cards. “I would hope so. My gosh,” Sullivan commented, reflecting on the ordeal.

“Final Destination deja vu”

Social media users reacted to the story, with some sharing their own car wash mishaps. One user wrote, “Gift cards to the same broke down a—car wash,” expressing skepticism about the compensation. Another added humor to the situation: “This happened to me when I backed up so the dryer would get the back window again 😂 I was able to open the door 😅.” A third commenter said, “Final Destination deja vu…” referring to the horror movie franchise.

Although Sullivan’s ordeal ended safely, the incident raises questions about car wash safety protocols. Most modern automated car washes are equipped with emergency stop buttons and exit mechanisms to prevent entrapment. In Sullivan’s case, it is unclear whether a mechanical failure or a system glitch caused the doors to remain locked.

Meanwhile, being trapped in a car wash while the machinery is operating could be extremely dangerous. Rotating brushes, high-pressure water jets, and drying mechanisms could lead to injury if someone were inside during a malfunction. Fortunately, Sullivan’s car wash was not fully running at the time. In 2018, a driver in New Jersey was trapped in a similar situation when the doors jammed mid-cycle, requiring firefighters to intervene.

For now, car wash patrons are advised to ensure emergency exits are accessible, avoid panicking, and, if necessary, call authorities if trapped. As one comment said, “I would’ve freaked out! [I have] claustrophobia!!!”