By FireRescue1 Staff
BLAINE, Minn. — A former firefighter pleaded guilty to two counts of criminal vehicular homicide and one count of criminal vehicular operation after driving a fire truck in a crash that killed two firefighters.
ABC Newspapers reported that Michael Johnson, 29, was driving a fire truck to a wildfire on Aug. 27, 2016. A Coon Rapids firefighter witnessed the trucks speeding down the highway at what appeared to be 80 to 90 mph, according to a criminal complaint.
The firefighter said he saw Johnson swerve three times before traveling across traffic and crashing into a median, causing the box to separate from the cab and roll several times.
Firefighters James Shelifoe and Alan Swartz both died in the crash and six other firefighters were hurt, including one who was diagnosed with a severe brain injury.
Johnson said in a statement that he had only 45 minutes of sleep before the crash and that he believes he fell asleep at the wheel and woke up as the truck veered into the next lane.
Johnson allegedly said he used cocaine two days before the crash and marijuana the day before. He took a plea deal and agreed to serve five years and nine months in prison. He will be formally sentenced Nov. 9.