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Twisted killer took my best friend and mentor. Now Gavin Newsom’s parole disgrace may set him free

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A man who killed two rescue workers in a head-on DUI collusion is about to be paroled from prison after serving less than half his sentence — unless Governor Gavin Newsom steps in to stop it.

I was in the rescue vehicle that day, and I barely survived. I’m speaking out because my colleagues can’t.

On July 17, 2004, the San Gorgonio Search and Rescue Team was en route to search for a missing 17-year-old male in Joshua Tree.

A driver, Joseph Tidwell, 35, was under the influence of methamphetamine when he passed out, crossed the center line, and struck our rescue vehicle head-on.

Team members Doctor Jim Evans (Doc) and Julie Haggerty were following us, and immediately responded. Doc could see that team member Scott Johnston was the most seriously injured.

Scott was my best friend. I watched helplessly, trapped in the back seat, as Doc performed CPR. But after a few minutes, Doc realized Scott was gone. 

I was sitting in the third-row seat of our Rescue Suburban. My leg and foot were broken, but Doc could tell I was bleeding internally and needed to be flown by helicopter to a hospital.

Tidwell, who was uninjured, was arrested at the scene. His girlfriend was severely injured.

I was sent to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, where I was in the ICU for two weeks, and had five surgeries. My iliac artery was torn, causing massive blood loss internally. My back, leg and foot were all broken.........

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