Caleb Johnson of Sylvan Township planned to go to Washtenaw Community College this year then transfer to a Christian college in Phoenix, Ariz. to pursue a business degree.
This summer, as he had the previous summer, Johnson was landscaping for customers.
Until a little more than a week ago.
That’s when his immediate plans changed because he was involved in a serious head-on accident on Liberty Road in Ann Arbor. Both of his ankles were severely broken, including both fibula’s and both tibia’s, his dad, Paul Johnson says.
And although Caleb Johnson remained conscious throughout the ordeal, the driver who apparently caused the accident, was not as lucky.
Both drivers were going about 35 miles per hour upon impact, Paul Johnson says, and it took the fire department an hour to cut the other driver out of his car. As far as Johnson knows, that driver has yet to regain consciousness.
However, Caleb was lucky, in a sense, because Matt Malone, a U-M surgeon, and Bob Craven were following his truck when the accident occurred. They not only pulled over to help, but also pulled the 18-year-old recent Chelsea High School graduate out of his Ranger truck, his father says.
Caleb Johnson was taken to U-M Hospital and underwent surgery to install a “halo-like” brace on both legs from the knee down to hold his feet in the right position. The doctors are waiting for the swelling to go down before he goes back to the hospital for more surgery on Aug. 8, his father says.
After spending four days in the hospital, he’s been at home, bedridden and healing until the planned surgery this week.
“Caleb would welcome any friends who would like to come visit him, since he is unable to leave the house, and even after surgery, as he will be confined to a wheelchair for three months,” his father says.
This will be followed by 6-8 months of therapy.
“We would appreciate all thoughts and prayers for Caleb’s swift recovery,” Paul Johnson says.
If you’d like to send a get well card, they can be mailed to Caleb Johnson, 17670 Heim Road, Chelsea, MI 48118. Or stop by and visit, his father says he’d love to see his friends.
