INDIANAPOLIS - Cold weather may have been the primary factor in a fire at Piggy's Car Wash in Liberty that destroyed a 2004 Honda with only 200 miles on the odometer, the Indianapolis Star reported.
The new car was a Christmas present for Bonnie Pearson of Liberty, who was going to wash it Tuesday before showing it off for the first time to some friends, said J.D. Pearson, Bonnie's husband.
The automatic bay was supposed to be closed to the public for repairs and a salamander heater was operating to warm the bay, assistant fire chief Kenny Alcorn said. The automatic mechanism also had been shut off, but apparently someone had hit the reset button, Alcorn said.
There was no sign saying the bay was closed and when Pearson deposited her money, the doors opened and she drove in and the doors closed again, J.D. Pearson said.
The car hit the heater and spilled the oil, which ignited, Alcorn said.
"They were almost trapped in there. Bonnie thought she was going to die right there. She almost couldn't get out of the car because of the brushes. My daughter is smaller and she got out right away," J.D. Pearson said.
It was Casey who pried and pushed on the garage door until she got it open, J.D. Pearson said.
"We're still shook up. I thought (Bonnie) was never going to go to sleep last night," J.D. Pearson said.
The new car was a total loss and the automatic equipment in the carwash also was damaged by the fire, Alcorn said.
"You don't think about fires at the carwash," Alcorn said.
Pearson and carwash owner Charley Hoog have the same insurance company, so they'll be sorting out the damages, Alcorn said.
"We're going to get another car, at least that's what the insurance company says," J.D. Pearson said.
The Indianapolis Star