Round Rock, Texas – The Round Rock community is grieving the loss of two beloved teens, Cooper Elsik, 18, and Caroline Brooke Patten, 17, whose lives were cut short in a Christmas Eve crash that continues to reverberate through their workplace and hometown.
The two worked at the Round Rock location of Soapy Falls Express Car Wash, where coworkers say their energy and kindness helped define the workplace culture. On Tuesday, employees described a normally upbeat environment overshadowed by grief.
“They were hilarious and they were also nice. I can never picture them mad,” said general manager Brandon Foerster, recalling how Patten often made sure no one felt excluded during shifts.
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, Elsik was driving on U.S. 79 in Milam County when a pickup truck pulling a utility trailer veered into oncoming traffic, triggering a chain-reaction crash. Friends said Patten was riding with him as the pair traveled to a Christmas event in College Station. The crash remains under investigation.
Coworkers say the loss has hit particularly hard because of the tight-knit nature of the team. “We’re all just grieving,” said Joshua Hernandez. “Coming to work the day after Christmas just sucked. We were all just existing.”
In response, Soapy Falls owner Montana Murrell announced a daylong fundraiser across the company’s three locations to support both families. The effort reflects a broader pattern seen in Central Texas communities, where local businesses often become hubs for collective mourning and support after youth tragedies.
Friends described the teens as mature beyond their years and deeply committed to their jobs and friendships. One coworker, Madisyn Tanguma, remembered Patten’s creativity managing the business’s social media: “She’d say, ‘Maddy, I have an idea — we should make this TikTok.’ It made every shift fun.”
As donations continue and memories circulate, many in Round Rock say the pair’s warmth and humor remain embedded in the community they helped brighten.