1620 5th AvenueOn June 20, a 19-year-old woman, Evelyn Courtney, and her dog suffered fatal injuries when the car they were riding in collided with a fire truck, according to NBC 7 San Diego. Now new details have been released about the events leading up to the accident.
Investigators have reported that they found a broken bottle of liquor in the car, and the medical examiner’s office reported that Courtney had a blood alcohol content of 0.2 or roughly three times the legal limit. However, Courtney was not driving when the accident occurred.
Driving the car during the accident was 44-year-old Robbie Gillespie, who suffered only minor injuries as a result of the wreck. Gillespie, who had been released from jail just two days before the crash, picked up Courtney and her dog sometime during the night near her home. The two had known each other a little more than a year, Gillespie told investigators. He had just lost his job and had asked Courtney to pay for a hotel room for him so that he could get some sleep.
The accident occurred at the intersection of Midland Road and Poway Road at around 5 a.m. Gillespie was driving southbound on Midland and ran a red light just as a fire truck traveling eastbound on Poway had entered the intersection. The fire truck was displaying its emergency lights at the time of the wreck but was not using its siren. No charges have been filed against Gillespie, but the investigation is still ongoing.
As investigators continue to uncover the truth about the events surrounding this accident, it should answer some of the questions still lingering about both that night and who should be held accountable for such a tragic turn of events.
Please visit our site for more information on car accidents, and contact our firm today at (619) 853-5101 for a free consultation if you or a loved one has been injured because of someone else’s negligence.
Tip of the week: Parents, talk with your teen about ways to handle pressure from friends to drink.
Bonnici Law Group, APC—San Diego car accident lawyer
1620 5th Avenue