A routine spring cleaning errand turned into a scene straight out of an action movie Friday afternoon in Pontotoc, Mississippi, when a car wash unit at Dipstix on West Oxford Street decided to skip the “wash” part and go straight to “explode.”
According to Pontotoc Police Chief Bob Poe, a customer pulled up, fed his coins into the machine, and instead of sudsy water and a spinning brush, got a full-on explosion. Bricks, metal, and debris were launched into the air and scattered across the property. The man’s car, still sitting in the stall where he left it, was crushed and totaled. The driver walked away without a scratch, though witnesses say he was, understandably, not exactly thrilled about it.
First responders arrived just after 1 p.m. and found significant damage to the facility. No injuries were reported.
When the Car Wash Washes You
A local food truck owner watched the whole thing go down from nearby and summed it up perfectly: “Nothing was damaged, we was just scared to death.” Honestly, a pretty solid outcome all things considered, if you don’t count the car, the car wash, and probably that guy’s entire afternoon.
It’s peak spring cleaning season, which means Dipstix was likely seeing a steady stream of drivers eager to knock the winter grime off their vehicles. Several people reportedly pulled into the lot after the explosion, took one look at the situation, and drove right back out. Smart call, honestly. Some cars just aren’t worth the drama.
Investigators are still working to determine what caused the unit to blow, according to local news. Whether it was a gas leak, equipment failure, or the car wash simply having a very bad Friday, that part remains to be seen.
One thing is certain: that driver is going to have a hard time explaining this one to his insurance company.