News

Actions

Canton firefighter Johnson's death ruled suicide

Posted at 3:40 PM, Apr 18, 2016
and last updated 2016-04-19 13:05:28-04

Canton firefighter Tonya Rae Johnson's death on State Route 8 was a suicide, the Summit County Medical Examiner announced Monday.

The medical examiner ruled that Johnson committed suicide when she walked across Route 8 on Feb. 22 and was hit by a pick-up truck.

 
Randey Johnson told newsnet5.com that he had a disagreement with Tonya about whether to stay on or get off the highway, so he pulled to the side of the road.
 
She then got out of the car, crossed three southbound lanes, climbed over a cement barrier and was hit by a truck in the northbound lanes of the highway. She was dead before police arrived.
 
The ruling was made after a lengthy investigation by the medical examiner and Akron Police Department.
 
At least 100 people crowded into a backyard in Canton on February 27 to remember the veteran firefighter and mother, following the fatal accident.