THIS NISSAN MAXIMA was being driven by Shaun Johnson, 46, of Vancouver when she reportedly went off the roadway and crashed into 16-year-old Justin Carey, a Battle Ground High School student who was waiting at the intersection for the school bus. Photo from Clark County Sheriff’s Office.
JUSTIN CAREY, 16, was struck by a car while he was waiting for the school bus to take him to Battle Ground High School the morning of June 10. He suffered severe injuries and is recovering in the hospital. Photo from Justin’s website, www.caringbridge.org/visit/justincarey.
Justin Carey, a 16-year-old Battle Ground High School student, is still in the hospital being treated for injuries he sustained after being struck by a car while waiting for the school bus the morning of June 10.
Clark County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a single vehicle crash at 7:09 a.m. on June 10 at Northeast 289th Street and Northeast 82nd Avenue. The driver of the Nissan Maxima involved in the crash, 46-year-old Shaun Johnson, was reportedly traveling southbound on Northeast 82nd Avenue, left the roadway, entered the western border ditch, traveled for approximately 100 yards and crashed into a fence and brush at the intersection of Northeast 289th Street, according to a news release from the Clark County Sheriff’s Office.
At approximately 8:37 a.m., Charles Barrett, a tow truck operator with Clark County Towing, was extracting the crashed vehicle from the ditch when he heard someone crying for help. Barrett discovered Carey about five feet away from the wreck lying in the bushes severely injured. Barrett called 9-1-1 and Carey was taken by Life Flight helicopter to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center.
Carey suffered two broken femurs and a severed femoral artery. He is awake and has undergone several surgeries to restore blood flow to his lower legs and repair his broken femurs.
According to the news release, Carey was standing near the intersection of Northeast 82nd Avenue and Northeast 289th Street waiting for the school bus to take him to Battle Ground High School when he was struck by Johnson’s car. He was thrown approximately 150 feet from the intersection into the bushes and tall grass. There were no witnesses to the crash and Johnson gave no indication that her vehicle had struck a person.
Johnson suffered a broken arm as a result of the crash and was treated at PeaceHealth and released. The Clark County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Homicide Unit, which also investigates serious-injury crashes, is continuing its investigation of the crash. No citations have been issued and no arrests have been made.
Sgt. Fred Neiman said the team is still investigating the incident and doesn’t expect to have a determination of what caused the crash for a few more days.
According to court records, Johnson was found guilty of possessing methamphetamine in September 1999.
On June 11, a press conference was held with trauma surgeon Dr. George Dulabon and Carey’s parents, Janette Chumley and Jim Carey. Dulabon said Carey was intubated in the field due to his level of consciousness. He said Carey had lost a lot of blood, but had no other injuries other than to the lower extremities.
“I can’t really explain what it felt like as a mom to have your son laying in a ditch for two hours and not being able to help him was heart wrenching,” Chumley said during the press conference.
Chumley expressed how grateful they were to the tow truck driver, Barrett, and said she wanted to thank him profusely, saying that he saved their son’s life.
“There’s no doubt about it that he saved Justin’s life, it was totally him and I believe that it was a divine intervention that brought him there,” Chumley said.
Carey’s father, Jim, described Justin during the press conference as a typical 16 year old, and said he is “the warmest, caring kid I know.”
Justin is a member of the Battle Ground High School ROTC program, and his father said his plan was to be in the military someday.
“I don’t think this will impair him, I believe God can really heal him and he’ll make a full recovery,” Jim said.
Justin’s parents have been updating the website they set up for him on his progress. According to their journal posts on the site, he opened his eyes several times on June 11 and was awake and pretty coherent on June 12. He has undergone several surgeries so far. People can keep up with Justin’s story, leave comments and donate if they want to at his website, www.caringbridge.org/visit/justincarey.
A fundraiser has also been set up to help Justin’s family with expenses by the Battle Ground High School ROTC Booster Club. The fundraiser will be Sun., July 14, 2-9 p.m., at South Pacific Cafe & Lounge, 15 E. Main St., Battle Ground. A percentage of the proceeds from all sales during this time will go directly to the family.
Chanda Cross, ROTC Booster Club president, said they are also soliciting donations from the community such as raffle donations and baskets. Justin’s family will also be present at the fundraiser.
“The support from the community has already been so overwhelming,” Cross said.
To find out more information about the fundraising event or to donate, contact Cross at (360) 567-7468 or email bghsafjrotcboosters@gmail.com.
