Injured Merced school principal said to be improving

The condition of a Merced elementary school principal was said to be improving Thursday, two days after he suffered critical injuries when he crashed his bicycle while trying to avoid a collision.

Matthew Johnston, 42, principal of John Muir Elementary School, was flown to a Modesto hospital on Tuesday evening after he was thrown from his bicycle when a pickup truck turned in front of him in the 600 block of West Yosemite Avenue, the Merced Police Department reported.

Matthew Lee, a close friend and bicycle riding partner, on Thursday said Johnston’s condition was “improving” and doctors were hopeful they could begin surgeries as soon as Friday. “There are numerous surgeries he’s going to need,” Lee told the Sun-Star. “But, it’s good news.”

Johnston suffered numerous broken ribs, a collapsed lung, and broken bones in his shoulder, jaw and head, Lee said.

Johnston was riding his bicycle east on Yosemite, in the bike lane, when a white 2004 Ford F350 pickup truck turned in front of him. A 16-year-old female driver was turning into the driveway of a duplex, police said in the statement.

The force of Johnston hitting the ground broke the bicycle helmet he was wearing. The bicycle and pickup truck did not make contact, police said.

Johnston has been with the school district for about 10 years and climbed his way through the ranks, teaching a variety of subjects before becoming an administrator. He’s been the principal at John Muir for about two years.

This story was originally published March 12, 2015 at 4:37 PM with the headline "Injured Merced school principal said to be improving."