TheBakersfieldCalifornian.com

Michaela Maxwell, a 15-year-old recovering from a Tuesday night crash in which her mother was killed, goes in an out of sedation and, forgetting what she was told, asks where her mother is, her father said Friday.

"She catches herself" as she remembers, said Jerry Maxwell, speaking publicly for the first time since his wife was killed. He said he tells daughter "she's up in heaven."

Maxwell said his wife of nearly 24 years, 41-year-old Michelle, "is up there with her older brother (Gordon Rupe)" who died about 15 years ago from cancer.

"They are just having a good old time," Maxwell said. He noted he's doing better than expected because of the prayers and support he's received from the family's church and the community.

Maxwell, 37, sat by Pastor Eddie Summers of Grace Assembly of God Church where a news conference was held to thank the community and announce funeral arrangements.

After a small private graveside service next Friday morning, the public is invited to attend a memorial service at noon at Grace Assembly of God, 2800 Larson Lane.

Mrs. Maxwell was a passenger in a Hyundai that her daughter Michaela was driving when they were struck on the mother's side of the car by a pickup truck driven by an off-duty Kern County firefighter who police say was drunk.

The firefighter, Mitchell Green, 30, is fighting for his life at Fresno Community Regional Medical Center, where he remained in critical condition late Friday afternoon.

Maxwell said although he has felt anger and disgust, he wanted people to pray for Green because of the possibility that the firefighter's family may lose someone they love.

Maxwell said he has put his anger aside because he's confident the justice system will do the appropriate thing, or at least Green will have to answer to God.

In the meantime, Michaela continues to recover from a broken wrist, broken leg and bruises, her dad said.

She's been stuck lying on her back in a Kern Medical Center bed with an external pin and rod in her leg. "In her words, it grosses her out," her father said.

Lots of people have visited the hospital, but anyone under 18 isn't allowed where Michaela is. He has told her groups such as the Color Guard at Independence High School -- Michaela is a member -- have come to visit.

Maxwell, a big man who works at the post office on Pegasus Drive, said he still has moments when it's quiet and he's alone when he breaks down over the incident that took his love away.

He said he met Michelle while he was in the Air Force at the wedding of her brother, Duane Jorges, in Montana. About two years later as he was visiting the brother in southern California, he renewed his friendship with her. He then kept going for visits, "and not to see Duane," he recalled.

He remembered his wife as someone who was involved in the church, loved children and recently was studying to be a medical assistant at an obstetrician's office.

"She's a fantastic lady," he said.

The night the crash happened just before 8 p.m. at Panama Lane and Ashe Road, the power went out because Green's pickup truck bounced off the car and severed a power pole, police said.

Maxwell described what he did: He tried to call and text his wife and daughter to alert them to stay away from that area because he lives nearby and saw the commotion. But he got no response. That wasn't unusual because Michaela was probably intent on her second time driving at night with her learner's permit, and his wife often turned her phone off.

Maxwell went to the area of the crash, but learned no information. He went to the New Life Center where his wife and daughter were going to sign a quilt for a 15-year-old girl who died of cancer. He didn't find them.

He went back to the intersection area and still got no information. He went home where he received a call that his daughter was at Kern Medical Center. Despite repeated efforts to find out about his wife, it took another 45 minutes before an officer finally confirmed she was dead.

Then he had to break the news to his 20-year-old daughter, Kathryn, who didn't believe him. His tears showed he was telling her the truth.

"We all just kind of hugged each other," he said.

The family's oldest daughter, Amber, and her husband Mike Hayden, have driven from their home in Montana to be with the rest of the family.