Mississippi Man Just Wanted a Clean Car. He Got a Brick Shower Instead.

A routine spring cleaning errand turned into a scene straight out of an action movie Friday afternoon in Pontotoc, Mississippi, when a car wash unit at Dipstix on West Oxford Street skipped the "wash" part and exploded instead.

According to Pontotoc Police Chief Bob Poe, a customer pulled up, inserted coins into the machine, and rather than receiving sudsy water and spinning brushes, experienced a full explosion. Bricks, metal, and debris were launched into the air and scattered across the property. The man's car, still in the stall where he left it, was crushed and totaled. Fortunately, the driver walked away unharmed, though witnesses say he was understandably upset.

First responders arrived shortly after 1 p.m. and found significant damage to the facility. No injuries were reported.

When the Car Wash Washes You

A local food truck owner who witnessed the event from nearby summed it up perfectly: "Nothing was damaged, we was just scared to death." Considering the circumstances, that was a fortunate outcome—if you don’t count the car, the car wash, and probably that man’s entire afternoon.

It’s peak spring cleaning season, so Dipstix was likely busy with drivers eager to remove winter grime from their vehicles. Several people reportedly pulled into the lot after the explosion, took one look at the damage, and drove right back out. A smart decision—some cars just aren’t worth the trouble.

Investigators are still working to determine what caused the unit to explode, according to local news. Whether it was a gas leak, equipment failure, or simply a very bad Friday for the car wash remains unknown.

One thing is certain: that driver will have a difficult time explaining this incident to his insurance company.