Johnson was responding to a request for backup from another officer when he apparently lost control of the vehicle and collided with a tree and a parked car, according to D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier (web|news|bio) .

The crash happened about 2:30 a.m. near the intersection of 11th and K streets, NE.

Metropolitan Police Officers converged on the Washington Hospital Center Tuesday, holding vigil inside for the 47-year-old friend and colleague. According to sources, the popular and highly-regarded officer was placed in a medically induced coma after the accident.

"I said something is wrong because he's not getting out of the car." Edith Buffalow's home is just feet away from the crash scene. She was the first to call 911 at 1:30 Tuesday morning. "Police came from everywhere. This must be his regular beat; so many officers." 
Early on, it had been reported that Johnson may had some kind medical emergency just before the accident, but because he suffered a major head injury in the crash, sources say it's difficult to know what happened.

Buffalow still gets shivers when she thinks of how his friends tried to help him. "They're saying, ‘C'mon, c'mon hold on you're going to make it, squeeze my hand, squeeze my hand.’ It was almost something you see on TV; very personal. They're just rallying around their comrade."

Johnson is married and has children, including a three-year-old.

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