Support the Timberjay by making a donation.

Serving Northern St. Louis County, Minnesota

Ely man hurt in four-vehicle crash

Posted 7/22/20

REGIONAL – A 23-year-old Ely man who suffered serious multiple injuries in a construction zone chain-reaction vehicle crash last Friday was released from a Duluth hospital on Monday.Michael …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Ely man hurt in four-vehicle crash

Posted

REGIONAL – A 23-year-old Ely man who suffered serious multiple injuries in a construction zone chain-reaction vehicle crash last Friday was released from a Duluth hospital on Monday.
Michael Douglas Johnson and passenger Gracie Sarah Hanson, 20, were northbound in a Toyota Corolla on Hwy. 169 near Door Rd. in Pike Twp. at about 4 p.m. on July 17 as they approached a construction area. The Corolla failed to stop and struck a stationary Toyota RAV 4 from behind, causing that vehicle to strike a Jeep Cherokee in front of it, and in turn the Cherokee struck a Ford Edge.
Johnson sustained what were believed to be life-threatening injuries and was transported to Essentia Healthcare Facility in Virginia and then flown by helicopter to a Duluth hospital. He was wearing a seatbelt. No use of alcohol was reported. Hanson was not injured, according to the Minnesota State Patrol report. She was also wearing a seatbelt.
The driver of the RAV 4, Irene Johnson, 69, of Ely, was not injured. The driver of the Cherokee, Gracie Eleana Paulson, 19, of Virginia, was not injured. The driver of the Edge, Jon Philip Malek, 59, of Tower, was not injured. All were wearing seatbelts at the time of the accident.
According to a post on Johnson’s Facebook account, he suffered multiple fractures and received multiple surgeries, but his condition had improved enough that he was released from the hospital on Monday.