Family Remembers Evelyn Courtney Via Fund, Social Media

Loved ones have established a fund to help the family of Evelyn Courtney who died Thursday when a Poway fire truck hit the vehicle in which she was a passenger.

Her father, Wade Courtney, via his Facebook page, is also calling on friends to send in photos and videos of the aspiring model for a slideshow for the 19-year-old's memorial service.

The appeals were part of a series of messages the grieving father has posted to Facebook in the wake of his daughter's death.

On Saturday he featured a photo of the note a new acquaintance of Evelyn's had left after her death. She had urged the writer to give up methamphetamine use and the person had been clean for five days as a result. 

Her father posted with the photo: “This is the kind of person Evelyn was. Always helping others.”

Meanwhile, 10News.com is reporting that the driver of the Honda Accord the fire truck hit was arrested two days before the accident on Midland and Poway roads.

County officials said Robbie D. Gillespie had been in custody after being suspected of being under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and possessing drugs or drug paraphernalia.

Investigators have said an open bottle of alcohol was found in the wrecked car and that they are examining whether drugs or alcohol consumption figured into the crash.