19-Year-Old Woman Killed in Firetruck Collision

The incident happened shortly after 5 a.m. on Poway Road and Midland Road

One person has died after a car collided into a fire truck in Poway Thursday morning, according to officials.

The incident happened shortly after 5 a.m. on Poway Road and Midland Road. The driver, 44-year-old Robbie Gillespie, struck the fire truck with his Honda Accord as officials were responding to a call on Garden Road.

A female passenger, now identified by the county medical examiner's office as 19-year-old Poway resident Evelyn Jean Courtney, was found dead inside the car at the scene.

Gillespie was temporarily trapped then later freed by crews at the scene. He has since been taken to a nearby trauma center.

The sheriff's department said a broken alcohol bottle was found inside the car. Officials are investigating the possibility of drugs or alcohol involved.

Three Poway paramedics and firefighters were inside the truck when the car collided with them. None of them were injured. Firefighters said their overhead emergency lights were activated at the time of the crash.

The intersection of Poway Road and Midland Road was closed during the morning while officials cleared the area.

The City of Poway released the following statement Thursday:

"The City of Poway would like to express its prayers and deepest sympathy to those involved in this accident and to their families. The Poway Fire Department is cooperating with law enforcement professionals while they conduct a comprehensive investigation of this accident."

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