Memorial held for carwash manager

The combined voices of Cesar Alvarez, Manuel Dimas and Elieser Romero rang out with cries to God as they mourned through song for their lost loved one, Eduardo Rodriguez. Playing the guitar, Romero held back tears while he sang, knowing he would never again see his uncle.

He and hundreds more gathered Wednesday inside the Harbor Lawn-Mt. Olive chapel in Costa Mesa to give thanks for the time they had with him and to offer prayers for Rodriguez's family.

Rodriguez was killed on April 25 when a co-worker behind the wheel of an SUV at the Classic Hand Car Wash, where Rodriguez worked for the last 15 years, allegedly hit the gas, pinning Rodriguez, police said. Rodriguez, a Costa Mesa resident, died almost instantly. He is survived by his wife, Dora Rodriguez, and a 2-month-old daughter.

After the services, conducted in English and Spanish, Alvarez spoke about sitting with his co-worker Rodriguez during his break time, talking about life goals and the future.

"We used to call him El Guero. He had such light skin," Cesar said.

Nick Coetzee, who owns a gym near the carwash, started a fund at Washington Mutual with the goal of raising $15,000 for Rodriguez's daughter, Emily. He gave the Rodriguez family a check for what had been raised by Tuesday morning.

He "was a familiar face in the community," Coetzee wrote in a eulogy for Rodriguez. "Regardless of his quiet, reserved manner, he made an impression on everyone he encountered."

Rodriguez's mother was unable to attend due to difficulties entering the United States from Mexico, where she lives, Rodriguez's brother Marco Rodriguez said.

The family plans to visit her in Tijuana later this week.

In the meantime, business continues at the carwash for owner Dietrich Jewel, who also attended the services. Counseling was offered to employees in the days after the accident. The carwash and detailing store, which closed after the fatal accident, reopened Monday.

Police are investigating the accident.

Rodriguez's co-worker Elias Escalante-Izara, 25, of Costa Mesa was arrested at the scene on suspicion of driving without a license and awaits deportation hearings from immigration authorities in Arizona, where he was taken Monday.