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WEST JORDAN — The wife and mother of a man and boy killed in an auto-pedestrian accident Saturday night described them as "best friends."
Levi Johnson, 11, was his "dad's right hand man," said Rhonda Johnson, and Todd Johnson, 44, was "the best father."
Rhonda and Todd were married for more than 12 years. Todd had three children of his own, adopted both of Rhonda's children and the two had Levi together.
"He loved those kids. He had a special bond with each of them. He just, he went out of his way to make sure each one of them knew how much they meant to him and how much he loved them," she said through sobs Sunday.
Todd Johnson and Levi were going "on a ride together on the back of (Todd's) Jazzy and going down to Smith's to get Christmas presents," Saturday night, Rhonda Johnson said, when they were hit and killed.
Both died in the collision on 7800 South near the Mountain View Corridor (6300 West) around 5:30 p.m.
The man driving the vehicle was taken to an area hospital, police said. His name and condition were not released.
"I don't blame (the driver). My heart breaks for him that he has to live with this for the rest of his life," Rhonda Johnson said, noting that she didn't know all of the factors involved in the collision. "It was an accident. And they went so quickly there was no suffering. …I don't blame him at all."
According to West Jordan Police Sgt. Dan Roberts, the Johnsons had apparently been offered a ride immediately before the accident.
"The offer was declined," Roberts said, "and as this person drove away, they saw them get hit by a vehicle."
Levi was his dad's right hand man. He would get his dialysis stuff for him and help him set it up. He would get him anything he needed. His blood kit, a drink of water. Anything. They had a special relationship.
–Rhonda Johnson
Rhonda Johnson, however, said the two were not offered a ride. She said a member of the bishopric in Johnson's LDS congregation saw the two on the road. He was turning around so he could follow in his car with his hazard lights flashing when they were hit by another vehicle.
Roberts said he is checking with investigators to confirm the account.
Jenny Garrard saw the pair when she was heading to Salt Lake City, hours before they died.
"I commented to my husband that it looked kind of sweet because the boy was riding on the back of the motorized chair and he was smiling and seemed to be talking to the man and they looked like they were having a good time," she said.
There was not a sidewalk where she saw the man and the son on the shoulder of the road, she said.
Investigators have not released details about the incident, although Roberts said the area was dark.
"At this part of 7800 South there aren't very many street lights or ambient light even in the area," he said.
According to Rhonda Johnson, the two regularly took the 7800 South route together because they lived nearby, and Levi would always ride on the back. Rhonda Johnson described the two as "best friends. They loved joking with each other and playing pranks on me," she said.
"Levi was his dad's right hand man. He would get his dialysis stuff for him and help him set it up. He would get him anything he needed. His blood kit, a drink of water. Anything. They had a special relationship," she said.
Todd Johnson was in stage 5 renal failure and on the wait list for a kidney donation before his death. Todd and Levi Johnson donated their corneas, and Levi's heart was donated as well.
One of the Johnson family's neighbors set up a gofundme account* to help pay for funeral services.
Contributing: Sandra Yi
*KSL.com
