Pennsylvania Woman Says She Was Locked Inside a Pitch-Dark Car Wash for Nearly an Hour With No Way Out
WAYNESBORO, PENNSYLVANIA – What was supposed to be a quick stop at a self-service car wash turned into a nightmare for a Pennsylvania woman who found herself locked inside for nearly an hour, with no lights, no working doors, and no response from emergency contacts.
The woman later shared video footage of the ordeal, documenting the moment she realized she was trapped inside the Waynesboro Water Works Car Wash — and the growing panic that followed.
Lights Off, Doors Locked, No Way Out
In the video, the woman shows that the car wash was completely dark. The rolling door wouldn’t open, the wash cycle hadn’t even started, and her car hadn’t been rinsed at all.
At first, she tried to stay calm.
She pressed the emergency button.
She called the emergency number posted inside.
She waited.
No one answered.
That’s when the situation became frightening.
Pounding on the Door, Begging for Help
With no response, the woman began knocking and yelling, repeatedly calling out, “Hello?” as she tried to get the attention of anyone outside.
She attempted to lift the rolling door herself — unsuccessfully.
@biisshhhh Trapped in a car wash for an hour 🙃 not the cop and the owner laughing at the end 🫣😂 #hostage #carwash #cops #fyp #help
At one point, she left her phone recording and used both fists to pound on the door, hoping someone passing by might hear her.
Nothing.
Panic Sets In After Every Exit Fails
As time passed, she tried another door inside the facility, only to discover it was locked as well.
That’s when panic visibly set in.
She knelt by the door again, calling out louder this time:
“Hello? Can you let me out please?”
In one chilling moment, she thought she saw the shadow of someone’s feet outside. She rushed over and pleaded, “Don’t leave,” but the figure disappeared.
She was completely alone.
Police and Owner Finally Arrive
After nearly an hour, help finally arrived. A police officer and the owner of the car wash came to the scene and were able to get her out safely.
Once outside, the tension broke. The woman laughed in relief, and both the officer and the owner appeared to laugh with her as the situation ended on a lighter note.
Why She Was Filming — And Not “Just Calling the Police”
In a follow-up video, the woman addressed criticism from viewers who questioned why she filmed instead of immediately calling for help.
She clarified that she did call the police first, after exhausting every other option — trying doors, honking her horn, pressing buttons, and calling multiple emergency numbers.
She explained that she began filming afterward because her sister advised her to document everything in case she or her vehicle was damaged.
She also addressed comments about a red emergency lever inside the car wash, saying she didn’t know what it was for at the time.
Car Wash Apologizes, Offers Gift Cards
The woman later shared that the car wash owner apologized sincerely and gave her several gift cards to make up for the experience.
Despite how frightening the situation was, she made it clear there was no lasting harm — and no hard feelings.
Internet Reactions: Anxiety, Jokes, and Lawsuit Talk
The video sparked intense reactions online.
“I’m having anxiety just watching this,” one person wrote.
Another joked:
“After 10 minutes I would’ve driven through the door.”
Some suggested she should sue, but the woman shut that idea down herself.
“Nothing bad happened,” she explained.
“I wasn’t harmed, my car wasn’t damaged, and the owner was incredibly apologetic. No harm, no foul.”
A Scary Situation With a Calm Ending
While the experience was undeniably terrifying, the woman emphasized that the situation was handled respectfully once help arrived — and that people shouldn’t jump straight to blame or lawsuits.
What do you think — would you have panicked, or stayed calm? Share your thoughts and join the conversation over at FatCityFeed.com.
