Fund established for driver in fiery crash

Deirdre Newman

An advisor to the Costa Mesa Police Explorers has set up a fund to

help pay the medical costs of one of the explorers who was injured in

a fiery car collision Tuesday.

Janie Walker took the initiative to set up the fund for Joel

Rodriguez, 18, who was pulled from his burning sports car by good

Samaritan Timothy Montag after Rodriguez reportedly ran a red light

and was broadsided by a cargo van at a Mesa Verde intersection.

Walker, who will be an Olympic torchbearer next month based on her

own inspirational recovery from being thrown from a horse, said she

was moved to create the fund because Rodriguez’ parents don’t have

health insurance.

“I just figured they’re going to need some help,” Walker said.

“It’s hard to say how expensive everything is going to be. I imagine

it’s going to be a while.”

Rodriguez is currently in a drug-induced coma at Western Medical

Center, said Walker, who has visited the hospital every day since the

crash.

Amazingly, he didn’t break any bones, Walker said. But his lungs

were damaged and he exhibits violent activity, even though his brain

scans have come back normal, Walker said.

“Every time they try to wean him off [the drugs] a little bit,

they have to tie him down to the bed,” Walker said. “At this point,

they don’t know what’s going on.”

Rodriguez is a senior at Estancia High School and was planning on

attending Golden West College in the fall and studying criminal

justice, Walker said.

“He’s been an explorer for less than a year,” she said. “It breaks

my heart, but I’m hoping he’ll pull through.”