FHP: Jacksonville mother of 2 killed after driver runs red light

Erica Johnson, 44, was 'my heart and my best friend,' 27-year-old daughter says

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A woman was killed in a multicar crash that also sent four others to the hospital Monday night on Jacksonville's Northside, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

Troopers identified the woman who died as Erica Johnson, 44, of Jacksonville. She leaves behind two daughters, 27-year-old Darrian Johnson and 17-yea-old Zipporah Johnson.

Her family wants Erica Johnson to be remembered as someone who worked hard and loved people.

"My momma was my heart and my best friend," Darrian Jonhson told News4Jax on Tuesday. "I called her every day just to go on her nerves. I aggravated her all the time. I'm 27 years old and I'm her big baby."

The crash involving four vehicles happened just before 8 p.m. at North Main Street and Busch Drive.

Troopers said Erica Johnson was driving east on Busch Drive when her Pontiac G6 was hit by a Nissan Sentra traveling south on Main Street that had run a red light at the intersection. 

Darrian Johnson said her mother was driving alone to pick her up from work at the time of the crash.

"We went toward the accident and we see the rims of her car. The car was so bad, all we noticed was the rims. And it was her," Darrian Johnson said. "I immediately jumped out of the car and ran toward her yelling, 'That's my momma. That's my momma.' And they pulled me back."

The driver who ran the red light was a 70-year-old man from Cincinnati, troopers said. He and his 63-year-old passenger were taken to UF Health hospital with serious injuries.

The Highway Patrol said it believes the 70-year-old driver had a medical episode.

According to the crash report, Erica Johnson's Pontiac swerved and hit a GMC Sierra and a Lexus RX350 that were both stopped at the traffic light.

The Lexus' driver and the passenger were taken to the hospital with minor injuries. The driver of the GMC was was unhurt.

The Highway Patrol reported that everyone involved in the crash was wearing a seat belt. Charges are pending, according to troopers.

In 2017, there have been five crashes at the intersection of Busch Drive and North Main Street. Just west at Busch and Balmoral drives, there have been 14 crashes so far this year.

Erica Johnson's two daughters are now struggling to live without the mother they loved.


About the Authors:

Corley Peel is a Texas native and Texas Tech graduate who covered big stories in Joplin, Missouri, Tulsa, Oklahoma and Jacksonville, Florida before returning to the Lone Star State. When not reporting, Corley enjoys hot yoga, Tech Football, and finding the best tacos in town.

Ashley Harding joined the Channel 4 news team in March 2013. She reports for and anchors The Morning Show.