A terrible accident in a ZIPS Car Wash has led to the death of an employee. 26-year-old Carolina Bree Franks was killed at the Weaverville location on Saturday, Jan. 13. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

The incident happened in the early evening. Investigators responded to the ZIPS Car Wash in Weaverville around 6:30 p.m.

Bree Franks apparently became trapped in the equipment and died on the spot, a spokesman for the Texas-based ZIPS Car Wash has told NBC News.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with our team member’s family in this time of loss. This is such an unfortunate tragedy,” ZIPS made public during a statement on Monday. “We are working with local authorities and the North Carolina Department of Labor OSHA throughout the investigation, and our Weaverville site will remain closed at this time.”

ZIPS has more than 245 locations across 24 states, including at least 20 in North and South Carolina. In 2022, ZIPS expanded its reach in the Carolinas.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BSL), there were 217 fatal occupational injuries in North Carolina in 2022. Those are part of the 5,486 recorded fatal work injuries across the country that year.

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