By Shannon Fiecke of the Shakopee Valley News reports:

SHAKOPEE -- Police are characterizing the death of a 34-year-old Shakopee man, who fell off a Marschall Road overpass early Sunday morning, as a "horrible accident."

James Johnson, a local mortgage consultant, was walking home from downtown Shakopee after an evening out with family and friends, when he fell onto the southbound lane of Highway 169 and died.

Authorities think Johnson might have sat down on the overpass, maybe to tie his shoes or take a rest, when he fell, said his wife, Gina Johnson.

"It was just a freak, horrible accident," she said.

Johnson and a longtime friend had gone out to Arnie's Bar after bowling with their kids and wives and other friends. The two planned to share a cab home, but at some point, they became separated.

Gina Johnson doesn't know why her husband decided to take the 4.4 mile walk home, instead of a cab.

When the friend left Arnie's, he didn't see Johnson and figured he had already taken a cab home, she added.

Capt. Jeff Tate of the Shakopee Police Department said foul play is not suspected, and there's nothing to indicate this was a suicide.

"He had two little kids, everything was going well at work," he said. "Everything just points to it being a horrible accident."

Since Johnson had been drinking earlier, Tate said he presumes alcohol was a factor in the incident. Police were still awaiting the results from blood-alcohol tests at press time.

Tate said Johnson would have fallen from the western side of the overpass. The eastern side has a pedestrian sidewalk and a high fence.

Someone driving by saw Johnson's body on the road and called police just before 4 a.m. Sunday. 

Gina Johnson said her husband wasn't a frequent drinker and was being responsible by not driving himself home.

The couple, originally from southwestern Minnesota, have lived in Shakopee for four years and have two sons - Braden, 5, and Carter, 3.

"He was a wonderful husband, a really great father," she said. "He loved being a father and was good at it. He was a hard worker. Always happy."

Business associate Keith Raney said from his talks with Johnson, he knew the man spent a lot of time with his boys and really enjoyed his family.
Gina Johnson said her husband also loved golf, the Minnesota Vikings and taking vacations. The two had just returned from a vacation together in California. 

Johnson, who grew up in Cottonwood, worked for the Shakopee branch of Wells Fargo.

Raney, a real-estate agent, said he felt totally comfortable referring clients to Johnson because he knew Johnson would take good care of them.

"It's so sad," Raney said. "He was a young guy with a bright future."
Johnson's complete obituary can be found on page 5.

Shannon Fiecke is a staff writer for the Shakopee Valley News. She can be reached at sfiecke@swpub.com [2].