A 19-year-old Sumner man who died in a motorcycle crash in Puyallup is being remembered by loved ones as a kindhearted friend with an adventurous spirit.
Evan Johnson was killed Monday, May 11, after a collision involving his motorcycle and a pickup truck near the intersection of East Pioneer Way and Highway 512 in Puyallup, according to Washington State Patrol.
Troopers said Johnson was riding eastbound on a 2014 Honda CBR650 around 3:20 p.m. when he attempted to change lanes and struck a white 2023 Chevrolet Silverado.
Johnson died at the scene. Investigators said he had been wearing a helmet and that drugs and alcohol did not appear to be factors in the crash.
In an online obituary shared by loved ones, Johnson’s family said he died “doing what he loved.”
“He always said that being on the bike was the only place his brain was quiet and he was singularly focused on having the time of his life,” reads his memorial.
“There are some who bring a light so great to the world that even after they are gone, the light remains.”
Family members described Johnson as someone who “always had a smile on his face, kind and thoughtful words, and a helping hand to share with anyone who needed them.”
The obituary says Johnson loved video games, long road trips, “chasing sunsets,” and “finding the road less traveled.”
Tributes quickly poured in online following news of the crash.
“He was always there for me no matter what and always had a smile on his face,” Gavin Sullivan wrote on a Kudoboard memorial page. “I have so many great memories of just hanging out with him. I miss you so much man.”
Another family friend, Becca Johnstone, remembered Johnson as “such a light in our neighborhood.”
Former Pierce County Assessor-Treasurer Mike Lonergan also shared a public tribute on Facebook, describing Johnson as a “remarkable young man” and noting he was the only child of Mike and Lisa Johnson of Sumner.
Lonergan said the family is encouraging donations in Johnson’s memory to New Hope Resource Center, a Puyallup nonprofit that supports people experiencing homelessness and those struggling with mental health and addiction-related challenges.
The nonprofit says memorial gifts can be made online through its website or mailed directly to its Puyallup location.
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