(La Porte, IN) - A man pierced by a stick outside La Porte apparently is on the road to recovery.  James Johnson, 24, was listed in stable condition Friday in the trauma center at Memorial Hospital in South Bend.

According to La Porte County Police, Johnson was part of a crew clearing brush Wednesday from a utility right of way on 100 West about three miles north of the city limits.  Exactly how the stick wound up penetrating his body remained unclear.  But, according to a police report, Johnson told investigators he was operating an off road vehicle and going to pick up some co-workers when he heard a “loud popping noise.”  He then felt pain and saw a stick hanging down from his leg. 

Johnson said he tried pulling out the stick but could feel it under his ribs on the left side of his body, according to the police report.  He reportedly broken off the bottom portion of the stick then was assisted by his co-workers, who drove him to the road to wait for emergency responders.  He was taken by a Medic One helicopter, which landed in an open field about a quarter mile away from the accident scene.

Johnson is from southern Illinois working for a company hired to maintain the utility right of way.