Update: Firefighter Allegedly Admits Drug Use Prior to Fatal Wreck

Aug. 30--The driver of a Michigan firetruck that crashed Saturday on Interstate 35W in Blaine, killing two firefighters, said he was sleep-deprived and that he nodded off before the rig went out of control. He also admitted using marijuana and cocaine in the days and hours before the wreck, according to charges filed Monday.

Micheal Allen Johnson, 28, of Baraga, Mich., was charged with two counts of criminal vehicular homicide in Anoka County District Court. He remains jailed ahead of a court appearance Tuesday.

Johnson was among nine firefighters from the Upper Peninsula community en route to help fight the Box Canyon wildfire in Utah when the truck "struck the median cable barriers, and rolled" at 3:08 p.m. Saturday, according to a State Patrol statement.

Alan Swartz, 25, and James Shelifoe, 23, also of Baraga, were killed. The others on the truck survived their injuries. Two other vehicles that were part of the contingent and traveling immediately in front of Johnson's firetruck were not involved in the wreck.

A witness traveling in the same direction told authorities he saw the three firefighter vehicles gaining on him. He estimated their speed at 80 to 90 miles per hour in the 70 mph zone and noticed Johnson's truck swerve to the right multiple times.

The passengers were members of the Beartown Firefighters, a crew that specializes in fighting wildfires and is jointly managed by the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

According to the charges, Johnson told officers that he woke up late Friday morning and for the next 28 or so hours before the crash had only a 45-minute nap.

Johnson believes "he fell asleep while driving and woke up to his passenger yelling at him as he veered off the road" near 95th Avenue, the complaint read. He said he tried to regain control of the truck but struck the median barrier.

The complaint added that Johnson admitted he had smoked marijuana on the morning of the crash and had used cocaine two days earlier.

Officers "noted signs of impairment and combative behavior" by Johnson, the charging document read. Toxicology test results are pending.

Copyright 2016 - Star Tribune (Minneapolis)