GILROY
– The 21-year-old Gilroyan who caused a four-car pile-up on
Highway 152 is apologizing for her behavior.
GILROY – The 21-year-old Gilroyan who caused a four-car pile-up on Highway 152 is apologizing for her behavior.
Kimberly Johnson also is claiming she had no intent of causing an accident when she activated the emergency brake in the vehicle her fiance was driving the night of March 16.
“I am very sorry for what I’ve done and very glad no one was seriously or critically hurt,” Johnson said.
Johnson’s action sent her 1993 Honda Accord into oncoming eastbound traffic roughly one and a half miles east of Bloomfield Avenue. After Johnson’s fiance Jason Miller lost control of the vehicle, the Honda sideswiped a 2001 Ford Ranger and hit a 2001 Ford Focus. The Ford Focus was then hit by a 1984 Volvo.
No one was seriously hurt, but Johnson and the driver of the Ford Focus, Phillip Shehan, were flown to Valley Medical Center. Johnson had an increased heart rate and Shehan was suffering chest pains.
Johnson said she is still recovering from the incident and still feels pain. In addition to the bruises and abrasions on her body, doctors told Johnson she had internal bruising and a partially collapsed lung.
Shehan’s condition could not be confirmed, but he was no longer listed as a patient at Valley Medical Center Monday morning.
The CHP reported that Johnson and her fiance were arguing in her Honda before Johnson lifted up on the brake. Johnson says they argued earlier that night, but the emergency brake incident was not the result of a fight.
Johnson said she is sensitive to car sickness and was feeling ill inside the car. She asked her fiance to slow down, and thinking he did not, Johnson lifted up on the hand brake to slow the car as it was headed for a sharp turn.
“When I (activated the emergency brake) I did not realize it would lock up the car’s tires and cause us to spin out. I didn’t do it to hurt anybody.”A California Highway Patrol investigation of the accident is still ongoing. The CHP said it may charge Johnson with an infraction for interfering with the operation of a vehicle and causing an accident.
The CHP could also file for a lesser misdemeanor charge against Johnson. If a misdemeanor is filed, the District Attorney’s office would have to press formal charges for the matter to go to court. The infraction would automatically trigger a court date.
If Johnson is charged with an infraction, she would be subject only to fines. If a misdemeanor is charged, she could face up to six months in jail.
