An O’Brien man, Archie Jackson Thornton remains in critical condition in the surgical intensive care unit at Shands Hospital in Gainesville after being flown there on Tuesday, Jan. 11, following a crash at the intersection of CR 349 and 101st Street. Thornton who sustained a critical blow to the head was taken by EMS to Lake City Medical Center and then flown by medical helicopter to Shands in Gainesville.

According to Thornton’s mother Marion, reached at the wreck victim’s home Monday morning, it is touch and go with her son. “It is a day to day thing with him,” she said. Thornton is 59 years old and according to Mrs. Thornton will turn 60 on January 21.

Thornton was traveling alone in his vehicle, and according to a report from Florida Highway Patrol, a newer model pickup truck driven by Joseph Anthony Johnson of Durante failed to stop at a stop sign crashing into Thornton. Traveling with Johnson was a 13-year-old youth.

The two youth were taken to Shands of Live Oak to be checked for injuries and later in the day Johnson was arrested and charged with burglary and grand theft and placed in the Suwannee County jail.

While still at the scene of the crash Suwannee County Deputy Tommy Roberts was approached by a man and woman who said when they returned home their property was vandalized, and it appeared there were items missing. Property recovered at the scene of the crash was an aluminum Jon boat, Karoke machine and other items as identified by James and Joann Ratley as being their property.

Deputy Roberts accompanied by Cpl. John Zimmerman with SCSO went to the home of the Ratley’s approximately four miles north of the crash where they observed spin marks in the driveway which would indicate someone had left in a rush. At the Ratley home a computer was unplugged and moved but otherwise unharmed, which would indicate someone had left in a rush. The Ratleys identified property at the scene of the wreck as belonging to them.

According to a spokesperson at the Suwannee County Jail on Monday, Johnson’s original bond was set at $10,000 but a string of violation of probation charges from Columbia County caused him to stay incarcerated. The 13 year old with Johnson was released to family according to the spokesman.

The crash and thefts remain under investigation.