Exclusive | Gavin Newsom blocks early release of meth-and-heroin driver who killed two rescue workers
A driver high on meth and heroin jailed for killing two rescue workers in a head-on DUI crash won’t get out early under California’s controversial Elderly Parole Program — after outrage that he was set to walk free for serving less than half his sentence.Gov.Gavin Newsom on Friday rejected a parole board’s decision to grant parole to Joseph Tidwell, now 57, bringing welcome relief to the families of Scott Johnston, 29, and Phil Calvert, 58, who were killed in the 2004 crash.Johnston’s best friend Bob Blanck, who was himself critically injured in the wreck, penned a moving op-ed for The California Post opposing Tidwell’s release.He welcomed the governor’s intervention ‘as a rare act of common sense’ given Tidwell has served only 22 years of a 45-year sentence.”It was definitely a great surprise,” Blanck told The Post of the governor’s decision.Blanck, a San Bernardino County school teacher, was serving as a volunteer with the San Gorgonio Search and Rescue Team on the night of July 17, 2004, as the volunteers sped to search for a missing 17-year-old in Joshua Tree.Tidwell, 35 at the time, passed out, crossed the center line and struck the rescue crew’s Suburban head-on, killing Blanck’s teammates Scott Johnston, 29, and Phil Calvert, 58.Blanck was trapped in the back seat and forced to watch helplessly as medical workers performed CPR on Johnston.But after a few minutes, he realized Johnston was gone.
Both of Calvert’s legs were smashed in the crash and he later died of complications from his injuries.Blanck himself suffered serious injuries and was hospitalized for three months, enduring five surgeries.Doctors repaired a torn artery and fused his lower back.They put a rod and screws in his leg, and an external fixator on his foot.Tidwell, who was unhurt, was arrested at the scene.
His girlfriend, who was riding shotgun in his truck, was severely injured.Blanck still gets emotional when he thinks of the crash.”Even though I watched m...