An employee at a US car wash has tragically died after getting caught up in the equipment.
Carolina 'Bree' Franks was working at Zips Car Wash in Weaverville, North Carolina, when she suddenly became trapped in the equipment at the branch on Saturday evening (|13 January).
The 26-year-old was 'already dead' when she was found by colleagues, according to her grief-stricken grandmother Ernestine Franks.
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The heartbroken relative, who had raised her granddaughter since she was six years old, explained that they had spent a few days together in Kentucky just prior to the devastating incident.
Carolina had headed home early on Saturday before clocking in for her fateful shift later that day.
The Zips worker was pronounced dead at the scene following the freak accident which took place only five months after she began working at the car wash.
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Ernestine told Fox 19: "I was just with her, so I could not believe it. I was in shock.
"She was working at the car wash, cleaning, and she got tangled up in a piece of equipment. When they found her, she was already dead."
The devastated grandmother explained that Carolina was passionate about her job and had worked hard during her short tenure at Zips Car Wash, where she was employed as a retail assistant.
"She enjoyed her job," Ernestine said. "She said it was a good job. She was special. She loved everybody. She loved animals. She's just a nice young lady."
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The victim's husband, Michael King, also shared a poignant post on Facebook about his late wife following the tragedy, which was captioned: "I miss my everything."
The post read: "I thought of you today but that is nothing new. I thought you yesterday and days before that too. I think of you in silence, I often speak your name. All I have are memories and your picture in a frame.
"Your memory is a keepsake from which I'll never part. God has you in His arms, I have you in my heart."
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Police said the North Carolina Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health has been notified of the incident and is leading the investigation.
A spokeswoman for Zips Car Wash said the firm is working alongside investigators in a statement released on Monday (15 January), while confirming that the Weaverville branch remains closed.
It added: "Our thoughts and prayers are with our team member’s family in this time of loss. This is such an unfortunate tragedy."
LADbible has contacted Zips Car Wash for further comment.
Olivia Burke