By Tom Kertscher
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Wisconsin)
Copyright 2006 Journal Sentinel Inc.
A Madison Fire Department lieutenant and his wife were killed in a traffic accident in which their only child survived with minor injuries, Madison Fire Division Chief Gregg Knudtson said Saturday.
According to Knudtson:
K-Tal Johnson, 42, and his wife, Shelly, 41, were killed Friday after their vehicle rear-ended a semi-truck at a four-way stop shortly before 1 p.m. Friday.
The accident occurred in Kosciusko County, Ind., between Gary and Fort Wayne.
The Johnsons, whose home is in Milton, were visiting family.
The couple’s only child, Ian, 13, was a passenger in the car. All three family members were wearing seat belts, and Shelly Johnson was driving.
Knudtson said K-Tal Johnson was a “very good fire officer,” particularly because he had been a paramedic and, as an amateur carpenter, knew buildings and construction well.
He often helped fellow firefighters with home improvements, Knudtson said.
Johnson also traveled as far away as New Mexico and Alaska to hunt everything from bear to musk ox, Knudtson said.
According to a statement from the fire department, Johnson was hired as a firefighter 1991, became a paramedic in 1992 and was made lieutenant in 2003.
“There wasn’t a person on our job that K-Tal didn’t help or touch,” Lt. Steve Davis said in the statement.
In 1999, Johnson helped a fellow paramedic deliver a baby whose umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck. The baby was born in an ambulance on the way to a hospital.
Services are pending.