Evelyn Courtney, 19, was a passenger in the car that collided with a fire truck responding to an emergency call in Poway, Calif., on Thursday, according to UT-San Diego. Courtney, an aspiring model, died at the scene, while the driver of her car suffered non life-threatening injuries. No firefighters were injured in the crash.
NBC San Diego reported Saturday that the driver of the red Honda, 44-year-old Robbie Gillespie, was released from prison on bond shortly before the fatal accident. Courtney was apparently working on a project with Gillespie's wife and he had offered her a ride home.
Authorities are looking into the possibility that drug or alcohol use contributed to the crash.
Courtney's father, Wade, has been active on Facebook since his daughter's death, garnering support for her memorial fund and calling on friends and family to share photos in Evelyn's memory.
"I'm sitting here at the inter section of Poway and midland roads looking at the flowers and the cards and reading all of the wonderful things people have to say about my daughter Evelyn," he wrote in one post.
"Words fail me again for how I would like to say thank you to all of the friends, family, and coworkers of our family for all of the love and support we have received in the last 24 hours."
