Family defend wife who live-tweeted husband's crash death Caran Johnson, 41, unwittingly live-tweeted her husband's death in a car smash outside Vancouver, Washington last Wednesday After she knew it was her husband, Craig, who died, she tweeted about gaining Twitter followers and whether he was wearing 'holey undies' Web users abused her for her messages but her family have defended her A family source told MailOnline that the incident was 'taken out of context' and she was 'in shock by the magnitude of what happened' The source added: 'We all react to things in an incident and think afterward, "Why did I say that? Why did I do that? By M L Nestel In Vancouver, Washington The family of the wife who unwittingly live-tweeted her husband's horrific car crash death today defended her actions in the face of abuse for boasting about gaining 700 new Twitter followers hours after he was killed. Caran Johnson, 41, says she deeply regrets her actions and, according to relatives, was 'in shock by the magnitude of what happened. They say she keeps asking herself "why did I do that?" The tragic tweets that revealed the loss of life were recorded on social media in two hours, during which Mrs Johnson relayed information on a fatal car accident on the Interstate 205 in Vancouver. Shock: Caran Johnson, 41, is overwhelmed by the death of her husband, Craig, 47, and the abuse she has received online for live-tweeting the fatal crash he died in even when she knew he was likely involved Smash: Mr Johnson died last Wednesday when his car hit a truck on the Interstate 205 in Washington state Jarring: In the immediate aftermath of the very public death Mrs Johnson sent this tweet, drawing ire from other internet users Awkward: Mr Johnson also tweeted this after Craig's death. But her family have said 'how can anybody know' what was going through her head, adding: 'We all react to things and think afterward, why did I say that?' Mrs Johnson, who has found some fame locally in recent years by tweeting breaking news from police scanners, was unaware that husband Craig, 47, was the sole casualty when she heard about the crash at around 1.30pm last Wednesday. Under the handle @ScanCouver, she began by tweeting "omg that is so horrible" when she heard the crash was fatal. Then, before long she told her followers "I'm trying not to panic, but my husband left work early and he drives 205 to get home. He's not answering his phone...""and he's late." She then related how he had left early because he felt faint and revealed her growing sense of panic in a series of harrowing tweets. She called herself a "basketcase" and shared the heart-wrenching news that her children have just returned home from school. Then came the dreaded confirmation: "it's him, he died." Broadcast: Mrs Johnson tweeted throughout the afternoon. She has got abusive comments because after a string of increasingly panicked tweets and finally when she knew her husband was dead, she tweeted: 'I know it's petty but I went from 567 followers to over 1300'. She has since made her account private Awful realization: The tweet that shocked her followers when she was told that Craig was confirmed as dead But as other Twitter users flooded to offer her condolences, Mrs Johnson, in a state of shock, tweeted: "I know it's petty, but I went from 567 followers to over 1300" and "That thought went through my mind...was hubby wearing holey undies? How awful! Despite having to prepare her husband's funeral and break the awful news to her two boys, Bryce, 11, and Cameron, 8, Mrs Johnson - who has since made her Twitter account private - has also had to cope with a stream of abuse online painting her as a ghoul for trying to capitalize on her husband's death. Since her tweets went viral Caran Johnson has been called a "bitch" and "whore" when the family source said the entire incident "has been taken totally out of context." She's been made to look awful, and this is tragic but it's not Caran's fault. On Gawker, "Phony Like You" posted: "Just another reason I'm glad I don't have the Twitter. #GetALife" One commenter RuleofReason posted: "She is also updating her Twitter with how many followers she is gaining as a result of the publicity." Another commenter using the name Veronica Corningstone chimed in: "What? You wouldn't be more concerned with your Twitter follower numbers than your dead husband and fatherless children? this woman just wants attention and donations. Oh, and more twitter followers. A Facebook post by "Camp Robin" came down hard on Johnson: "Very hard way to learn how inappropriate is to tweet details of other people's misfortune..." Abuse: Mrs Johnson's been called a 'whore' and a 'bitch' by anonymous users who took offense at her tweets But her family have hit back. "Caran was more in shock by the magnitude of what happened in a matter of minutes," a family source told MailOnline, adding that her critics can't begin to imagine what she was going through at the time. "How can they know," the source said. How can anybody know? We all process things differently and we all react to things in an incident and think afterward, "Why did I say that? That doesn't make sense... And I know she's done some of that and I will know she will continue to do some of that. And life beyond the computer screen has posed obstacles for the grieving mother. When she ventured out to do some grocery shopping in the days after her husband's death she was vilified by someone who recognized her on the street. "She left the house and somebody knew who she was and they started asking her, "Why are you here? Why are you shopping for your kids? "She just wanted to have a normal day and get some things for the kids and wanted to get outside," the family source said. In a tragic twist of fate, MailOnline has also learned that Craig, who had a history of epilepsy, declined numerous offers by concerned co-workers to give him a safe lift home that day. Tough: A family source told MailOnline that Mrs Johnson has also faced abuse for going out shopping for her children since the tragic accident. The family member said: 'She just wanted a normal day out' According to the preliminary report conducted by the Washington State Patrol, Johnson was heading home north on the Interstate 205 when "for an undetermined reason" crossed over the grass median and smashed head-on into 53-year-old Carol Shelley from Tacoma, Washington and totalled her 2002 black Toyota Tacoma. Craig was pronounced dead on the scene while Shelley survived, but suffered two broken legs, a shattered pelvis and multiple internal injuries. Shelley remains in critical condition, State Trooper William Finn told MailOnline. The whole event may have been averted had Craig Johnson accepted the kindness of his fellow workers at the Range Rover dealership where he worked. Some of his co-workers had known Johnson since junior high school and were concerned about him. "His face was flushed and one of his friends said, "Let us drive you home," another family source told MailOnline. Craig declined. Another offered but Craig replied: "No, I will be okay." Before setting out on his return home the family source said that Craig communicated by text to his wife that he was sick but was going to drive home. The family source said that Craig Johnson hadn't experienced an epileptic seizure for more than a decade and "wasn't taking any medication" and didn't "have any medical conditions." The family believe that Craig must have blacked out before his Hyandai crossed over the median and collided with Shelley's truck. Since the tragedy, Mrs Johnson has made no public statement except to express her concern for the survivor and thank her supporters. Unfortunately, it seems most of the media attention has been about my family's loss. I want to let Carol Shelly and her family know we are so very sorry that she was hurt in this tragic accident. We are thinking and praying for her fast recovery. She added that Craig was "incredible person who loved his family beyond belief." He looked forward to playing Legos with Cameron and teaching Bryce to play the guitar. He had an amazing sense of humor and laughed every day," she said. Even when things were rough he found a reason to laugh. Faint: Co-workers told MailOnline that they had offered Craig a lift home that day because he didn't look well Tribute: Mrs Johnson has made no other public comment since the accident except to pay tribute to her husband and also express her concern for Carol Shelly, who was also hurt in the smash Mrs Johnson said around $12,000 that has been donated to the family through an online fund will ensure that Mrs Johnson, who was going to school to earn her teaching degree and hopes to one day establish a preschool, can remain in the family's townhouse for a little longer and won't have to abruptly relocate. The support has lifted her spirits. 'She said the other day, "you know some people only gave a dollar and I know that's all they have,' the family source said through tears. And consoling the kids has also been tough for the family who are dealing with kids who know how to use a computer and can understand the manner of their father's passing. "When the youngest son Cameron was sitting down he spoke to his grandmother and she told him, "Sometimes we never know what's going to happen, but sometimes it's just that time for that person to leave."" 'He responded "Well I would just like to know why it was my dad's turn to go."'