Washington State Patrol troopers say that a man found lying in the middle of state Highway 500 on Sunday night had fallen off of a moving vehicle after car surfing.
Troopers solved the mystery after readers of The Columbian saw a news story on the incident and called the State Patrol to report a news tip, which led investigators to the vehicle’s driver, Trooper Will Finn said.
Eric Johnson, 26, of Gresham, Ore., was a passenger in a green 1997 Jeep Cherokee traveling west on state Highway 500 at about 9 p.m. Sunday, Finn said. The Jeep’s driver, a 31-year-old Gresham man whom police did not name, had been talking to Johnson when he looked over and saw Johnson’s boots disappear out of the vehicle, Finn said.
Johnson had climbed out of the window and gotten on top of the Jeep, using the top of the car as a makeshift surfboard, Finn said.
When the driver realized what was happening, he pulled the car to the shoulder, at which point Johnson fell off, Finn said. The Jeep had been traveling at about 55 mph.
The driver called his sister, who called 911, Finn said, and he also saw police in the area responding to what he assumed was his injured friend, Finn said. The driver then left.
When troopers arrived, they found Johnson extremely intoxicated and uncooperative, Finn said. He was taken to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center for scrapes and a fractured hand.
Troopers have completed their investigation, Finn said, and no criminal charges will be filed against Johnson or the driver.
“It was just a bad decision,” Finn said of the ordeal. “We don’t think the driver did anything bad,” he added.
Finn advised all vehicle occupants to stay properly restrained in the vehicle when the vehicle is moving.
