Johnson was a contributing editor for Car and Driver, among other roles.
Update 6/21/19: Authorities confirmed that they have recovered Johnson’s body.
This week, authorities called off the search for missing automotive journalist Davey G. Johnson. Nearly two weeks after he mysteriously vanished during a trip through the Sierra Nevada mountain range while reviewing a Honda CB1000R motorcycle, the Calaveras County, California sheriff’s office searched Johnson’s trail to the edge of the Mokelumne River, but failed to find his whereabouts. Unfortunately, Car and Driver reported Johnson likely died by accidental drowning. As of June 21, sheriff’s office representatives confirm they did recover Johnson’s body near the river.
Authorities did not suspect foul play in Johnson’s disappearance.
Johnson had worked with Car and Driver since 2014, when then-editor-in-chief Eddie Alterman brought him on as “the voice of his generation”. “He was a gifted, innate storyteller and a man consumed with his enthusiasms,” Alterman said. Johnson, aged 43, had been in the industry since 2001, also writing for sites like Jalopnik and AutoWeek.
Yesterday, Car and Driver published details of Davey Johnson’s origins in the industry, and the impression he left upon it with his storytelling ability. It’s definitely worth a read to learn more of the journalist, and the man, as those across the whole industry offer their condolences to Johnson’s family and friends.
Editor’s Note: As fellow automotive journalists, we offer our deepest condolences to Johnson’s family, as well as our friends over at Car and Driver during this difficult time.
