'There Was Recklessness'

The accident that seriously injured two Radnor teenagers in the early morning on Halloween seems like a combination of wrong place, wrong time and bad choices and bad driving.

A new driver, late to work, is driving on nearly bald tires on a wet road with hills and curves. Her car has no working horn, and her tires have no traction.

The last point brings up why . Reckless—that’s what Radnor Police say Johnson was to drive her recently purchased 2001 Nissan Altima, which superintendent Bill Colarulo said should not have been on the road.

Police say they believe

“She was very distraught the day of the accident. She broke down a number of times [while being interviewed],” Colarulo said Tuesday after announcing misdemeanors and motor vehicle violations charges against Johnson.

“Lets face it, I don’t think anybody wouldn’t feel any kind of remorse,” he said. The accident was just that— not intentional.

“But there was recklessness,” Colarulo said.

According to police, Johnson was driving three co-workers to a senior center in Tredyffrin Township. Police say her shift started at 7 a.m. The accident took place around 6:53 a.m. 

Her passengers experienced minor injuries, and were taken to Bryn Mawr Hospital. Johnson could be charged with reckless endangerment of them as well, Colarulo said.

The speed limit is 35 m.p.h. in the 600 block of Conestoga Road and 30 m.p.h. recommended at the curve where Johnson’s car lost traction and struck two teens waiting for a school bus.

Police Officer Ken Piree, the officer that investigated crash with the department’s detectives, opines that she was going too fast for the condition of her car. But police cannot say whether she was driving above the speed limit.

The misdemeanor charges could carry jail time for Johnson.