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Nut Club member hurt during Fall Festival remains in critical condition

Abbey Doyle
Evansville
Grant Johnson

EVANSVILLE, Ind. — The Evansville man injured during the West Side Nut Club Fall Festival remains in critical condition.

Grant Johnson was riding on a side-by-side UTV on the evening of Oct. 8 when he fell off the back while the driver was making a left turn. The incident happened near the intersection of 12th Avenue and Illinois Street.

Johnson, as well as the driver, 39-year-old Brandon Julian of Evansville, were members of the Nut Club.

A few days after his injury, friends of Johnson created a Facebook page, Nuts for Grant, where people could keep up to date about his condition and supporters could post their well wishes from him.

Nuts for Grant Facebook Page

On Oct. 14, the page posted an update from Johnson's family:

Update on Grant: Grant is currently in critical condition.

On October 8th Grant sustained a head injury. Shortly upon arrival at the hospital he underwent surgery to control brain bleeds, and allow room for swelling of his brain. Since surgery he has been under unconcious medical sedation while his doctors monitor his condition.

During this time he has had no setbacks, but there has been no real news to report about his condition.

Today Grant had his first follow up CT since surgery, and it showed improvement from his initial scan. At this time his doctors are continuing his unconcious medical sedation, giving his brain even more time to mend.

Head injuries require a lot of time to heal, and waiting around for the family and friends of the patient. At this time we ask for patience, support, and prayers for his complete recovery.

Further updates will be posted here as the family releases them.

Over the weekend, the page gave an additional update on Johnson's condition from his family:

Update on Grant: Grant's condition is much the same as our last update. He is still under unconscious medical sedation to let his brain heal. He was taken off his vent tube and put on a trach tube, which is better for long term recovery.

There have been some small positive signs, though his condition simply remains stable but critical.

Please continue to pray for his recovery.

Several of the booths and performers during Fall Festival donated some of their profits to Johnson's family. They are also selling T-shirts to help with medical costs, according to the Nuts for Grant Facebook page. Shirts are $20 and can be ordered at southwestgrafix.com/store/.

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"The community support that rallied together quickly for the Johnson family is amazing! #wecometogether #nutsforgrant," a post on the page read. 

On Oct. 11, Johson's mom, Karen Johnson, posted her appreciation for the support.

"This is Grant’s mom and dad, and on behalf of the Johnson family I want to give a huge 'thank you' to everyone," the post read. "I’m amazed at the love and support the west side community is showing. The Nut Club is an outstanding organization and the guys and their wives are such a blessing. I want thank Officer Brandon Woodley of the Mt Vernon Police department for stepping up and changing the outcome of Grant’s life. You sir, are an amazing man! God has this!! Thank you Father!!"