Minnesota Man Injured in High Speed Chase Dies-New Charges Filed

Becker, MN (KROC-AM News) - A Minnesota man is now facing more serious criminal charges for causing a horrific high-speed crash while he was allegedly high on heroin and trying to elude authorities in a stolen vehicle.

The crash occurred on the afternoon of July 6 in central Minnesota shortly after law enforcement officers spotted a pickup that had been reported stolen in St. Cloud and began pursuing it on Highway 10 in Sherburne County at speeds reaching 100 miles per hour. The pursuit came to a tragic end in a multi-vehicle crash in Becker that left the driver of one of the other vehicles fatally injured.

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According to the criminal complaint, witnesses saw the stolen pickup court airborne as it crossed some railroad tracks before side swiping one vehicle and then smashing into the side of another vehicle before skidding into a nearby convenience store, where the pickup struck a third vehicle and ended up on its side against some gas pumps. The court document says the driver was identified as 21-year-old Bradley Alfred Allen Johnson of Montrose.

The court document says Johnson spoke with officers after the crash and told them he had ingested heroin earlier in the day. It also says investigators found evidence of possible drug use in the stolen vehicle.  Tests results on a blood sample obtained from Johnson are still pending.

The charges say the driver of the vehicle that was hit broadside was airlifted to a hospital with life-threatening and severe head trauma. A GoFundMe online fundraiser created to benefit his family 36-year-old Christopher Vyskocil died from his injuries Monday evening.

Johnson made a court appearance Wednesday in Sherburne County on the amended criminal complaint, which includes a charge of fleeing a police officer resulting in death. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison.

Johnson faces five additional felony charges: fleeing police causing great bodily harm, two counts of criminal vehicular operation, receiving stolen property, and a third count of fleeing police. He also faces gross misdemeanor counts of criminal vehicular operation in connection with the fatal crash.

His conditional bail has been set at $100,000. Johnson is due back in court in September.

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