What happened when one man stepped out of his car mid-wash? A fatal accident that raises more questions than answers.
Some stories just beg the question, “What were they thinking?” This tragic tale of a Nevada driver crushed by his own car in a California car wash is definitely one of them. Rene Jaime, 56, was visiting family in Escondido, California, when he decided to go to the store and take his Scion xB for a wash late at night. But instead of letting the automated system do its job, Jaime, for reasons we may never understand, got out of the car mid-cycle.
Now, here’s where the details get a little hazy and a lot more tragic. According to the San Diego Medical Examiner, Jaime entered the automated wash around 11:45 p.m. and exited his vehicle while it was still inside the wash bay. Other reports suggest that his Scion xB was in drive, meaning it may have rolled forward after he left the driver’s seat. Before he knew it, Jaime was caught between his own vehicle and the car wash machinery. A passerby noticed something was wrong when an alarm signaled a malfunction with the machinery.
When Escondido police officers arrived, they found Jaime pinned between his Scion and part of the wash equipment, with the vehicle still in drive. According to Escondido Police Lt. Scott Walters, evidence suggests Jaime was dragged by his own car, which likely rolled forward after he stepped out. It’s unclear if the wash itself was active, but officers believe that the primary cause of the fatal injuries was the vehicle moving forward and crushing him against the machinery.
While emergency responders managed to lift and move the car to free him, Jaime’s injuries proved fatal by the time he arrived at the hospital. Unfortunately, what should have been a routine wash turned into a tragic accident that we’ll probably never fully understand.
For those wondering what was going through Jaime’s mind, the truth is, we’ll never know. Was he trying to adjust a rogue side mirror or spot a stubborn bug splatter? Or maybe he was reaching for something he’d forgotten? Or maybe he had the bright idea to get a free shower by walking through the wash alongside his car? Whatever the reason, this is a clear reminder of one important rule of car washes: when the wash starts, stay inside.
