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Viewer helps Newport News car wash owner tracks down driver that crashed into business

Posted at 12:25 PM, Aug 13, 2018
and last updated 2018-08-15 17:47:36-04

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – The owner of a Newport News car wash has found the driver responsible for damaging his business.

On Saturday, surveillance cameras from Harpersville Car Wash, a self-serve car wash in Newport News, captured a vehicle driving straight into a wall of the business.

From the surveillance video, it appears that the person in the driver’s seat of a black Kia SUV lost control of the car and drove into a wall of the business while another person stood outside of the car.

The person outside of the car then took the keys from the driver, backs the car up and proceeds to wash their car.

The owner, Brandon De Le Garza, says the customers never alerted him to the damage. He found out about the situation from a friend who saw the aftermath.

The damage is so extensive two car wash bays are now closed.

De Le Garza says it will cost almost $5,000 to have the wall fixed.

On Wednesday, De Le Garza told News 3 he found the name of the woman and is working with her insurance company to cover the cost of the damage. He said someone recognized the car from the news.

De Le Garza said her car is getting repaired at an auto shop and that she claims she didn't know the damage was that bad. However, after talking to her insurance company, they say they will cover the cost of the repair and the cost of lost business.