An early Thursday morning collision involving a Poway Fire Department truck responding to a call and a car resulted in the death of a 19-year-old woman and injury to another person.
The 4 a.m. collision occurred when the fire truck heading eastbound on Poway Road toward a call in the Garden Road area broadsided a Honda Accord traveling southbound on Midland Road. Following the impact the Accord struck a pole at the southeast corner of the intersection.
Evelyn Jean Courtney, the car’s passenger, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Lt. Jeffrey Duckworth of the San Diego Sheriff’s Department. She was a 2012 Poway High School graduate, a SteinMart employee, aspiring model and lived in Poway with her parents. The driver, Robbie Gillespie, 44, of San Diego, was taken to a hospital with what were described as non-life-threatening injuries. The three firefighter/paramedics on the truck were not injured and rendered first aid at the scene while the paramedic unit that was following continued on to the original medical aid call.
The crash took place early Thursday morning near San Diego, as a red Honda driven by 44-year-old Robbie Gillsepie hit a truck occupied by a crew of three paramedics and firefighters en route to an emergency. Police said Gillespie had just been released from jail on bond 48 hours before the crash, the San Diego Sheriff’s Department said.
Police noted that Gillsepie had been previously arrested for being under the influence of drugs and alcohol, possession of drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia. Gillsepie’s passenger — 19-year-old aspiring model Evelyn Courtney — died in the Poway crash after she became trapped under the Honda.
Gillsepie was said to be a mentor and friend to Courtney. He was taken to the hospital with non life-threatening injuries.
Investigators found a broken alcohol bottle inside Gillespie’s car on the scene, but have not determined if drugs or alcohol played a part in the crash.
