ANOKA, MN-- A Baraga firefighter charged in the deaths of two people in an Anoka, Minnesota traffic accident is facing eight additional charges.
Michael Allen Johnson, 28, was part of a crew of Beartown Firefighters headed to Utah to fight a wildfire August 27, 2016. Johnson was driving when the vehicle hit the median on I35W and rolled. James Shelifoe and Alan Swartz died in the crash. Seven others were injured.
Johnson was originally charged with two counts of criminal vehicular homicide (gross negligence). WLUC-TV says he has also been charged with:
- 2 counts of criminal vehicular homicide – operate vehicle any amount Sched 1 or 2 controlled substance
- criminal vehicular operation – great bodily harm – any amount Sched 1 or 2 controlled substance
- 5 counts of criminal vehicular operation – substantial bodily harm – any amount Sched 1 or 2 controlled substance
Johnson said he fell asleep at the wheel. He has also admitted to using marijuana and cocaine in the two days before the crash.
