What started as a late-night towing attempt in Washington quickly turned into a bizarre chain of events that could only be described as a slow-motion disaster.
In the early hours of July 30, a routine effort to move a broken-down car somehow ended with the same vehicle slamming into a restaurant three separate times — all caught on jaw-dropping surveillance footage.
The Pierce County Sheriff’s Office has since released the video, cheekily titling it “How NOT to Tow a Car.”
Deputy Carly Cappetto summed it up perfectly in the clip: “Just when you think it can’t get any worse — it gets worse.”
The Plan: Tow a Broken Car from AutoZone
According to police, the drama began around 3:45 a.m. when the driver of a white Honda Pilot pulled into an AutoZone parking lot with a dolly and tow strap.
Their target? A maroon vehicle that had been sitting there since the previous evening.
The car’s owner had reportedly told AutoZone staff that it wasn’t running and promised to return to tow it later.
That’s when a man and woman — captured in the footage — began their ill-fated rescue mission.
Attempt One: A Snap and a Short Drag
The first towing try was over almost as soon as it began.
The strap pulled the maroon car only a short distance before snapping completely. No harm done — yet.
Attempt Two: Disaster in Motion
On the second attempt, things took a dangerous turn.
The strap snapped again, but this time, the maroon car rolled downhill on its own.
With the passenger desperately trying to stop it, both the car and the unlucky helper ended up smashing into the front of a nearby Pho and Teriyaki restaurant.
The impact shattered glass, sent debris flying, and created a scene that looked straight out of an action movie.
Attempt Three: Another Hit for the Restaurant
Despite the first crash, the determined pair tried again.
The third attempt almost succeeded in getting the car out of the lot — until the strap failed yet again.
This time, the runaway vehicle rolled backward and slammed into the restaurant for a second time.
The Final Blow — and the Escape
In what turned out to be the final act of this chaotic spectacle, the maroon car smashed into a curb and wall, causing even more damage.
At that point, the would-be towers decided they’d had enough.
They abandoned the vehicle entirely and took off in the Honda Pilot.
Police Investigation Underway
Authorities are now treating the incident as a hit-and-run.
They’re asking for the public’s help in identifying both the Honda Pilot and the woman seen in the surveillance footage.
What was meant to be a simple tow job will now likely end in criminal charges — and an unforgettable cautionary tale for anyone tempted to cut corners on roadside repairs.