Bentonville police are investigating a collision at a local car wash where the driver reportedly lost consciousness before colliding with the equipment, according to a social media post.
The incident, reported on Reddit by user Ok-Status2275, describes a momentary lapse in control that resulted in significant damage to the building. The driver told authorities he had sneezed and passed out instantly, only waking up to the sound of the impact.
Automated car wash lanes have become a familiar feature along the busy corridors of Northwest Arkansas. They run on timers and plastic brushes, dealing with the region’s humid air and the grime of highway driving on US 71 and the interstate loop. In that strip center in Bentonville, the routine of cars lining up for bubbles and rinse cycles was interrupted by a sudden screech of tires and a crunch of metal.
According to the user’s post, the wreck occurred spontaneously. The driver, describing the event narratively in the thread, attempted to share exactly what went wrong. He said he sneezed with such force his vision dropped and time seemed to stop, leaving him unconscious for the duration of the crash.
Arriving officers found the aftermath of that split-second mistake. Water from the wash was mixed with debris near the entrance. The impact likely jarred the driver awake, or alerted bystanders to call 911, though the Reddit account does not specify if there were injuries.
Investigating officers are reviewing the details to confirm whether medical events were the sole cause or if other factors contributed to the lack of response. In a city that moves as quickly as this one—traffic rumbling past corporate campuses and retail hubs near the downtown Square—it only takes a second of inattention for things to go sideways.
Police reports for this specific incident are pending further review of witness statements.
Source: Reddit Arkansas
