Police scanner enthusiast accidentally live-tweets husband’s fatal car crash
Just as she had done hundreds of times before, @ScanCouver’s Caran Johnson live-tweeted police scanner details following a car accident on Wednesday afternoon. It wasn’t until more information emerged that Caran realized one of the victims was her own husband, Craig Johnson.
The macabre incident began to unfold shortly before 2 p.m. when a car collision was reported on the southbound lanes of Interstate 205 in Washington state. Responding to tweets from The Columbian, Caran mentioned she hated that area because there are “too many on ramps, speeders and too few lanes.”
Listening to an emergency scanner through an application on her computer, Caran then learned one person was killed in the two-car collision.
“omg that is so horrible,” she tweeted to her 3,800 followers. “nice, two vehicles went around officer blocking onramp to I205S. lame-o’s!”
Although the cars’ descriptions weren’t immediately available, Caran grew concerned when her husband didn’t answer his phone.
“I’m trying not to panic, but my husband left work early and he drives 205 to get home,” she said, adding he was late.
Her tweets gradually became more frantic.
“He uses his bluetooth, so he would answer his phone. he also wasn’t feeling good so his work was concerned when he left.” / “i’m a basketcase.” / “I just called his work and he was feeling faint when he left work. #panic” / “he might have pulled over because he was feeling faint and then passed out or had a seizure. he has epilepsy”
Communicating with the state patrol’s spokesman and The Columbian‘s photographer, Caran begged for more information. She then called 911 and reported her husband’s license plate number. The operator said police would call her back.
A short while later, a pair of state patrol officers told Caran the news. She then tweeted, “It’s him. he died.”
Investigators later revealed Craig Johnson’s northbound vehicle crossed the grassy median and collided with a southbound Toyota truck. Craig was declared dead at the scene. The other driver was transported to an area intensive care unit. That woman is now in satisfactory condition.
Police said they aren’t sure what caused Craig to swerve across the median. But, to the thousands who followed Caran’s twitter account, what matters the most at this point is supporting the widowed mother of two: Community members have already contributed more than $3,000 to a fund set up for the family.
Despite her grief, Caran got back on Twitter Thursday morning to express her appreciation: “Thank you all so much for the prayers and thoughts.”
