Adam Johnson, 27 of Morgan Hill, was expecting a baby boy and enjoying his job as a massage therapist when he was struck by a motorist in downtown Morgan Hill Wednesday, Feb. 19, according to those who knew him.
Johnson died two days after the accident due to injuries suffered in the accident, police said. Witnesses told police that Johnson had been walking in the roadway, and for an unknown reason he laid down in the eastern lane of Monterey Road northbound, just south of Third Street, before he was struck.
Johnson was transported to San Jose Regional Medical Center with “major trauma to his head and body” immediately after the accident, which happened about 8:48 p.m., police said. Morgan Hill Police Capt. Shane Palsgrove reported Johnson succumbed to his injuries Feb. 21.
Johnson had been working at Massage Envy in Morgan Hill for about a year before his death, according to his girlfriend Jennifer Mendez, who is about six months pregnant with the couple’s son who they plan to name Zachary Lloyd Johnson.
“Adam is a very caring, sweet, gentle guy who would be anybody’s friend,” Mendez, 24, wrote in an e-mail to the Times. “He would never hurt a fly.”
About two years ago, Johnson decided to become a massage therapist, and he enrolled in the National Holistic Institute in San Jose, Mendez said. He graduated with a 4.0 GPA and three certificates.
“He discovered that he didn’t just have a passion for what he can do, but the gift he had all along to help people out by relieving stress for people that needed to be pain free,” Mendez said.
Johnson started working at Massage Envy last year, and his clients and co-workers were “stunned” to hear of his death, said Massage Envy owner Danielle Fiegel. The company is planning a fundraiser for Johnson and his family for March 14, when Fiegel will donate a portion of proceeds from every massage that day to a memorial fund.
“His clients had nothing but glowing reviews. What a wonderful young man, so professional, great therapist, and we absolutely cannot believe that he is gone,” Fiegel said.
For about two years before his death, Johnson and Mendez had been living with Johnson’s parents in Morgan Hill. Mendez called his parents “the most loving and caring people I’ve ever met.”
Johnson’s family is not planning a public memorial service, Mendez noted in a message on her Facebook page.
More details on the Massage Envy fundraiser and memorial fund will be printed as they are available.
The driver of the vehicle that struck Johnson was not injured and remained at the scene of the collision, police said. The driver did not appear to be intoxicated and was cooperative with authorities.
The driver has not been cited or charged, and the accident is still under investigation, police said.
Mendez said she wants to meet the driver and other occupants of the vehicle that struck Johnson “in person.”
“How can you not see a person laying in the middle of the street at that time of the night when you have the whole area of downtown Morgan Hill all lit up?” Mendez mused.
