Magoffin man injured in motorcycle wreck in Texas

SAN ANTONIO, TX – A former Magoffin Countian was badly injured in a motorcycle accident in Texas Friday evening, with local friends and family gathering donations to help his family.

The SI talked with Debra Ann Howard, who is a cousin to the wife of the man injured, identified as Jacob Johnson, age 30 years old. According to police accounts to the family, on Friday, December 8, they believe Jacob was going home after work, and lost control coming off of an exit ramp, which threw him off the motorcycle, hitting his back on a yield sign before hitting the roadway.

Jacob is currently in stable condition at a military hospital in San Antonio, with the doctors telling the family they’re not sure how he’s still alive.

Howard said Jacob always wears his helmet, but it must have caught on something, causing his jaw to break. He has a severe brain injury, broken back, right arm broken, and other internal injuries, though the brain injury is the main concern, currently.

Jacob and his wife, Misty, sold their home a while back and bought a truck and camper and have been travelling around the U.S., with Jacob, a member of the Local 452 Plumbers and Pipefitters Union out of Lexington, working wherever they go, while Misty homeschools their three boys. They’ve stayed in Arizona and Illinois prior to Texas, and had only been there a few weeks when the accident occurred, with Jacob getting his first check earlier that same day. He even drove the motorcycle that day so his wife and kids could have the truck if they needed it.

Howard said the couple has been together since high school, so Jacob is more than just an in-law.

“He’s like a younger brother to us,” Howard said. “We’re a close family and they’re 17 hours away right now. Misty was down there by herself, with the three boys – 10, 7 and 4 years old – and she’s not used to driving in the bigger cities like that. I just feel so helpless to not be able to be there for her.”

Family and friends were able to raise enough money to fly Jacob’s mom down there to be with them, Howard said.

“They’re good people and they’ve been together since high school,” Howard said. “We couldn’t have handpicked a better person for Misty a husband and a dad for those boys. He’s such a good person.”

While Howard said her cousin would never ask for help, she said she knows she’s going to need it in the days, weeks and months to come, so she’s been trying to help spread the word on how people can donate to them, noting their PayPal account is @JacobJohnson3 (picture of their family in front of a giant guitar), and Jacob and Misty Johnson have a bank account at Citizens Bank if people want to drop off donations there.

Also, the Johnson County Jeep Club will be holding a benefit ride on Saturday, December 16. The ride starts and ends at the Paintsville Lowes, with a donation of $25 per ride. All vehicles are welcome and the group will be meeting at Paintsville Lowes at 11 a.m., with the ride starting at noon. All proceeds will go to Jacob Johnson and his family to help with expenses during this difficult time. If people want to donate to the benefit ride, they can contact Michael Wireman or Connie Blevins on Facebook.

Misty Johnson requested that we continue to ask the community for prayers for them as they continue to take this one day at a time.