Carwash manager who was hit by SUV dies

The Classic Hand Car Wash in Costa Mesa remained closed Thursday, a day after its manager died after being run over by an SUV allegedly driven by a co-worker.

A small memorial of flowers rested on the ground where Eduardo Rodriguez, 35, of Costa Mesa was pronounced dead Wednesday.

Carwash employee Elias Escalante-Izara, 25, of Costa Mesa, was filling in for another man who normally drove vehicles. At 4:10 p.m. Wednesday, Izara allegedly struck Rodriguez with a black, 2007 Mercedes-Benz SUV, police said.

Izara was moving a Mercedes SUV from the carwash — which sits on 17th Street — to a detailing garage in the rear of the parking lot at the time of the crash, authorities said. Rodriguez stood in front of the SUV, waving it into a narrow, canopied area just behind the detailing shop. Izara allegedly hit the gas, pinning his boss between the SUV and a Toyota Tundra, police said.

The Mercedes-Benz pushed the other vehicle out of the way, ran over Rodriguez, and continued on in a complete circle around the Patina shop next door, smashing large clay pots and even taking out a chunk of the shop’s stucco walls.

Izara also allegedly hit a black Escalade belonging to Patina owner Jenny Johnson parked just 20 feet away from Rodriguez.

In her office with a customer at the time of the accident, Johnson, 32, felt the entire building shake as the Mercedes hit the wall, she said.

“I turned around and saw the tail end of the car” and Rodriguez lying face down, Johnson said Thursday.

“Everyone was yelling,” she said. “We all thought it was a hit-and-run at first because of the speeding.”

Johnson ran out with towels and began placing them on Rodriguez in case he went into shock, she said.

Rodriguez’s left leg was bleeding, but he did not speak before authorities arrived, Johnson added.

Orange County coroner’s officials said Rodriguez died of crushing injuries from being pinned between the Toyota Tundra and the Mercedes-Benz.

Rodriguez had worked at the carwash for 15 years. He is survived by a wife and a 2-month-old baby.

The owner of the car wash appeared extremely distraught Thursday and refused to talk with the media about his long-time employee.

Izara was arrested on suspicion of driving without a license and booked at Costa Mesa Jail, where he was placed on an immigration hold, police said.

Izara may have been driving with one foot on the gas pedal and one foot on the brake, Costa Mesa Police Sgt. Marty Carver said.