Employee struck, killed in freak accident at La Cañada car wash identified
Donations are being collected at Foothill Car Wash in La Cañada for the family of a 60-year-old employee who died Wednesday after a vehicle coming out of the wash accidentally struck him and dragged him onto Foothill Boulevard, officials reported.
A man identified Monday by the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office as Calixto Chan Cauich was reportedly detailing a Mercedes G360 on the west end of the lot, located at 2355 Foothill Blvd., at around 3 p.m. Wednesday when a 2007 Mercury Grand Marquis lost control and accelerated from the wash line, according to a sheriff’s incident report.
The Grand Marquis, which was being driven by another male adult employee, collided with the Mercedes and Cauich became trapped underneath it, said Crescenta Valley Station Sgt. John Gilbert.
“The vehicle struck him and dragged him on the ground out onto Foothill Boulevard away from the property,” Gilbert confirmed Tuesday.
Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s deputies immediately arrived on scene and found the victim, still alive, on Foothill Boulevard. One westbound lane was closed while Fire Department personnel transported Cauich to Pasadena’s Huntington Memorial Hospital.
He reportedly died from his injuries and was pronounced dead at the hospital at around 8:38 p.m., according to Coroner’s spokeswoman Sarah Ardalani. The cause of death was determined to be multiple blunt force injuries.
Gilbert said deputies on scene interviewed the employee who was driving the Grand Marquis when it lost control as well as several witnesses.
“The driver of the vehicle indicated there was a mechanical problem related to a floor mat being stuck under the pedal area that, in his opinion, caused the vehicle to accelerate against his will,” the sergeant said, indicating the vehicle was impounded for further investigation.
“We are investigating his claim through the surveillance video as well as attempting to gather any information from the vehicle itself,” Gilbert said.
Employees of the car wash were reluctant to speak on Monday but did confirm a collection was being taken up for Cauich’s family and said several customers and community members had made contributions.
Near the front counter, a small pink envelope read: “Chan Calixto fund.” Foothill Car Wash owner Steve Berkman did not respond to a request for an interview, but one employee who wished to remain unnamed estimated Cauich had worked at the La Cañada facility for about five or six years.
