Chaffee man wakes up in hospital after truck accident

A Chaffee man awoke Monday from a two-week coma in a Tennessee hospital with severe injuries he suffered when he was hit by a pickup truck.

Allen Johnson, 22, was visiting his father, Michael Johnson, in Granger County, Tenn., when he was hurt June 18, said his aunt, Tammy Mathews of Scott City. He remains in critical condition at UT Medical Center in Knoxville, Tenn. His mother is Angela Horman of Chaffee.

"Our prayers are answered in that the Lord has him brought this far," Mathews said Tuesday. "Two neurologists told us he'd never wake up and he woke up yesterday."

Doctors and family have not yet told Johnson what happened because they fear any more stress could worsen his recovery, she said.

Johnson was about a mile from his father's house on a two-lane country road as he walked to a store with his sister's boyfriend, Mathews said. When the two heard the truck, Johnson walked to the other side of the road as the other man walked to the ditch. The driver moved his pickup into the other lane, possibly to avoid the other man, she said.

Tried to run

"Allen saw him coming toward him and he turned to run but he slipped and fell," Mathews said.

The accident happened at about 8 p.m. The driver was a rescue worker who had been leaving scene of another accident, she said.

Johnson was flown to the hospital, where doctors found a crack in his liver, bleeding in the brain and several internal injuries. He also suffered a broken spine, collar bone, left elbow, pelvic bones, left leg and knee cap and right ankle,

"Every rib is either cracked or broken," Mathews said. "They didn't expect he'd live through the night."

So far, Johnson has had four surgeries on his stomach and is having another Friday. But the prognosis is still uncertain, his aunt said.

"They don't give us any odds yet," she said. "He's still on the respirator and he gets real agitated when he can't catch his breath."

Mathews is setting up a fund at Union Planters Bank for donations to Johnson's family for medical costs.

"Mostly we just want everyone's prayers," she said.

mwells@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 160