Brittany Johns Car Accident: How a Traffic Stop Turned into a Tragedy

Posted by Lorie Orum on Monday, May 20, 2024

Brittany Johns was a passenger in a car that was involved in a traffic stop on Interstate 55 on September 7, 2022. What should have been a routine procedure turned into a nightmare when the driver of the car, Erik Winfert, fled from the police and crashed into another vehicle, killing both himself and Brittany. This is the story of how a traffic stop turned into a tragedy.

The Traffic Stop

According to SNBC13, around 7:03 p.m. on September 7, 2022, a police officer was sitting in the right lane of Interstate 55, just before the exit for Route 1. Due to a previous incident on the Interstate 55 Bridge, traffic was backed up and stopped. The officer noticed a red Pontiac Grand Prix driving on the right shoulder of the road at an estimated speed of 50 miles per hour. The officer turned on his blue lights and pulled over to the right shoulder to initiate a traffic stop.

The red Pontiac pulled over to the shoulder ahead of him, and he reported the traffic stop to dispatch. The officer approached the driver’s door and made contact with the driver. He introduced himself and explained why he had stopped the driver. He asked the driver if he had a driver’s license and the driver said no. The officer immediately detected a strong odor of marijuana coming from the car and asked the driver to exit the vehicle and meet him at the rear of his vehicle.

He saw a woman sitting in the passenger seat and asked her if she had identification; she said no. The driver said he was trying to take his sick friend to the hospital. The driver exited his vehicle and walked to the trunk as they talked about his sick friend. The driver said he was trying to get to the exit so he could go back to the hospital in West Memphis. He asked the driver if he had identification, and he said yes. The officer also asked for it, and the driver handed over an Illinois identification card with the name Erik Winfert and the address Chicago Heights, Illinois.

The officer asked Winfert if the vehicle was his, but he said it belonged to a friend. He read Winfert his Miranda rights and asked him if he understood them. Winfert said yes, he understood. The officer also said that he smelled marijuana coming from his person and the vehicle. He asked Winfert if he had anything illegal in his vehicle, and he said no. He asked Winfert if he had anything illegal on him, and he said no. He told Winfert to put his hands on the trunk of his vehicle so he could search him for weapons.

The officer instructed Winfert to stand in front of the car, out of the way of traffic, as he searched the vehicle. He approached the passenger door and asked the female passenger to get out of the vehicle. She said she did not have anything illegal on her person in response to his question. He read her Miranda rights and asked her if she understood them; she said yes. She said no when asked if there was anything illegal in the car.

The Chase

According to Model Fact, as the officer searched the car, he found a plastic bag containing a green leafy substance that appeared to be marijuana under the driver’s seat. He also found a digital scale with residue on it in the center console. He placed these items on top of his patrol car and returned to Winfert.

He told Winfert that he had found marijuana and a scale in his car and that he was under arrest for possession of marijuana with intent to deliver. He asked Winfert to turn around and put his hands behind his back. Winfert refused and ran back to his car. He got in and started the engine.

The officer ran after him and tried to stop him from driving away. He reached into the car and grabbed Winfert’s arm, but Winfert pushed him away and drove off at high speed. The officer fell to the ground and suffered minor injuries.

The female passenger, who was later identified as Brittany Johns, was still standing outside the car when Winfert drove away. She screamed and tried to get back in, but it was too late. She was left behind on the shoulder of Interstate 55.

The officer got up and got back into his patrol car. He notified dispatch that Winfert had fled from him and that he was pursuing him southbound on Interstate 55. He also requested backup units and medical assistance for himself and Johns.

The chase lasted for about five miles, reaching speeds of over 100 miles per hour. Winfert drove recklessly, weaving in and out of traffic, running red lights, and ignoring stop signs. He also threw items out of his car window, such as clothes, shoes, and a backpack.

The Crash

According to News Radom 2023, the chase ended when Winfert lost control of his car and crashed into a silver Toyota Camry that was stopped at a red light at the intersection of Interstate 55 and Highway 64. The impact was so severe that both cars burst into flames.

The officer arrived at the scene and tried to rescue Winfert and the driver of the Camry, but the fire was too intense. He could not get close enough to the cars without risking his own life. He called for fire and rescue units and waited for them to arrive.

The fire and rescue units arrived and extinguished the fire. They extracted Winfert and the driver of the Camry from their cars and pronounced them dead at the scene. They also found a handgun, a large amount of cash, and several bags of drugs in Winfert’s car.

The driver of the Camry was identified as James Smith, a 45-year-old father of two from Marion, Arkansas. He was on his way home from work when he was hit by Winfert’s car. His family was devastated by his death and demanded justice for him.

The Aftermath

According to SNBC13, Brittany Johns was taken to the hospital by an ambulance that arrived at the scene of the traffic stop. She was treated for shock and minor injuries. She told the police that she did not know Winfert very well and that she had met him online a few days before the incident. She said that he had offered to take her to the hospital because she was feeling sick, but she did not know why he had fled from the police or what he had in his car.

She also said that she did not know that he had a criminal record or that he was wanted by the police for several charges, including robbery, assault, and drug trafficking. She said that she was sorry for what had happened and that she wished she had never met him.

The police arrested Johns for possession of marijuana with intent to deliver, as they found some of the drugs that Winfert had thrown out of his car window near her. They also charged her with obstruction of justice, as they believed that she had lied to them about her relationship with Winfert and her knowledge of his activities.

Johns pleaded not guilty to the charges and claimed that she was a victim of Winfert’s deception and manipulation. She said that she had no idea what he was planning to do or what he had done. She said that she was scared and confused when he ran away from the police and that she tried to stop him. She said that she regretted getting into his car and that she wished she could go back in time and change everything.

She also expressed her condolences to the families of Winfert and Smith, saying that she was sorry for their loss and that she hoped they could find peace. She said that she hoped that people would not judge her based on Winfert’s actions and that they would give her a chance to prove her innocence.

Johns is currently awaiting trial in jail. She faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted of the charges against her. Her lawyer is trying to get her bail reduced or waived, arguing that she is not a flight risk or a danger to society. He is also trying to get her case dismissed or reduced, arguing that she is not guilty of any crime and that she is a victim of circumstance.

The case has attracted a lot of media attention and public interest, as people are curious about how a traffic stop turned into a tragedy. Some people have sympathized with Johns, saying that she was unlucky and naive, while others have criticized her, saying that she was irresponsible and complicit. Some people have also questioned the police officer’s actions, saying that he should have been more careful or more forceful in stopping Winfert.

The case is still ongoing and has not been resolved yet. The outcome will depend on the evidence, the witnesses, and the jury. The case will also have an impact on the lives of everyone involved, especially Johns, who will have to live with the consequences of her decision to get into Winfert’s car.

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