Death by Cop 2021-2025
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Steven Robert Johnson
Age : 52
Gender : Male
Race : White
Date : 09/04/2021
Location : U.S. Route 24 westbound between Jewell Road and Independence Road
City : Defiance
County : Defiance
State : Ohio
Agency : Ohio State Highway Patrol
Officer(s) :Sergeant Fernando Chavez
Cause of Death : Vehicle
Event : Bystander killed by police vehicle crash
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
On 09/04/2021, at approximately 2:35 p.m., 52-year-old Steven R. Johnson of Bryan was riding as a passenger in a pickup truck traveling west on U.S. Route 24 through Richland Township in Defiance County. At the same time, Ohio State Highway Patrol Sgt. Fernando Chavez was conducting a traffic stop on the right shoulder between Jewell and Independence roads. Chavez had stopped another vehicle for speeding and was inside his marked patrol cruiser writing the driver a citation. The cruiser's emergency lights were activated.
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According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the pickup driven by 28-year-old Justin R. Johnson traveled off the right side of the highway and struck the rear of Chavez's stationary patrol cruiser. The force of the collision pushed the cruiser forward into the vehicle Chavez had stopped.
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Steven Johnson suffered fatal injuries and died at the scene. Justin Johnson sustained life-threatening injuries and was flown to ProMedica Toledo Hospital. Sgt. Chavez was transported to ProMedica Defiance Regional Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver and passenger of the vehicle Chavez had stopped were also transported to the hospital for possible injuries. The collision therefore killed Steven and injured four other people.
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The westbound lanes of U.S. 24 were closed for approximately one hour and then restricted to one lane while investigators worked at the scene. The roadway was fully reopened approximately three hours after the crash.
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Unlike many police-vehicle fatalities, this crash did not involve a pursuit, emergency response or moving police cruiser. Chavez's cruiser was stationary on the shoulder with its emergency lights activated when the pickup struck it from behind. The Ohio State Highway Patrol attributed the collision to the pickup driver failing to move over or slow down for the roadside traffic stop. The crash was later specifically cited by the Ohio Department of Transportation and OSHP in a statewide campaign urging motorists to comply with Ohio's Move Over law.
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DISPOSITION:
The available reporting identifies the crash as a failure-to-move-over collision. No criminal charge against Sgt. Fernando Chavez resulted from Steven Johnson's death.
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OFFICER BACKGROUND:
Sgt. Fernando Chavez was the Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper conducting the traffic stop when his stationary cruiser was struck. Chavez sustained non-life-threatening injuries in the collision. The Ohio Department of Transportation subsequently identified Chavez by name when using the crash to illustrate the dangers police, emergency personnel and roadside workers face from passing vehicles.
SOURCE LINKS :
https://www.wane.com/top-stories/defiance-driver-fails-to-move-over-or-slow-down-causes-fatal-crash/
https://www.fox19.com/2021/09/05/troopers-stress-importance-move-over-slow-down-law/
