Lebanon Mom Killed By Car Wash Vacuum Shock, City On Edge

Gladys Marie Lopez Echevarria, a 26-year-old Lebanon mother of two, collapsed at a self-service vacuum station at the Carriage House Car Wash on April 15 and later died at a hospital. An autopsy report received by police on Wednesday found that she was killed by electrocution. The case has rattled regulars at the popular wash and renewed concern about the safety of its vacuum equipment as investigators dig into what went wrong.

What investigators found

Lebanon City Police say the Lebanon City Fire Department inspected the vacuum at the island where Lopez Echevarria collapsed and determined that unit was unsafe. Power to that machine was immediately shut off. Investigators also learned that a customer had reported an electrical shock from a different vacuum on the same island on April 14 and that maintenance staff responded and repaired that machine the same day. As a precaution, the Department of Public Safety ordered every vacuum at the business taken out of service while the equipment is evaluated, according to LebTown.

Autopsy points to electrocution

An autopsy report delivered to police on Wednesday concluded that Lopez Echevarria’s death was caused by electrocution, authorities told reporters. Lopez Echevarria, a mother of two who was originally from Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, was first transported to WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital and later transferred to WellSpan York Hospital, where she was pronounced dead, Daily Voice reported. Police say they will consult with the Lebanon County District Attorney’s Office as they decide whether criminal charges are appropriate.

Family fundraiser and response

Friends and relatives have launched a GoFundMe to help cover funeral costs, and the campaign organizer described Lopez Echevarria as “a person loved and cherished by many.” The fundraiser, created on April 18, had collected more than $2,000 toward a $7,000 goal at the time of this report, according to the campaign page. The online drive has become the main public outlet for community support while the official investigation continues, per GoFundMe.

What comes next

Police say preliminary findings do not at this point indicate criminal intent or gross negligence, but investigators continue to gather evidence and will review the autopsy with the district attorney’s office, according to local coverage. The car wash owner has been cooperating with investigators, and authorities have ordered that all vacuums stay out of service until they are fully inspected and cleared, WGAL reported. Lebanon City Police are asking anyone with information about the incident to contact the department.