Three dead after boat collision at Major League Fishing event in Alabama
A fishing tournament on Alabama's Lewis Smith Lake turned deadly on Wednesday morning when two boats collided during competition, killing three people and injuring at least three others.
The crash occurred around 7am during the second day of the Major League Fishing (MLF) Tackle Warehouse Invitational, prompting the league to cancel the remainder of the event.
According to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), the collision involved a Nitro bass boat and a center-console style vessel. One man, identified as Joey M Broom, 58, of Altoona, was fatally injured when the bass boat struck the vessel he was aboard. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Two other men, John K Clark, 44, of Cullman, and Jeffrey C Little, 62, of Brandon, Mississippi, were thrown overboard during the crash. Both men drowned. Their bodies were later recovered from the water.
Officials confirmed that multiple individuals were injured in the crash, though their identities and conditions have not been made public. ALEA continues to investigate the incident.
MLF confirmed that one of its competitors, Flint Davis of Leesburg, Georgia, was involved in the accident. Davis's role in the crash remains unclear. His boat was still on the lake later in the day, according to local reports. A park manager noted uncertainty as to whether all vessels involved in the crash were officially participating in the tournament.
'This is a heartbreaking moment for our entire organization,' said Kathy Fennel, MLF's executive vice president and general manager. 'Our deepest condolences go out to the families and friends of those affected by this tragedy.'
The Tackle Warehouse Invitational had been scheduled to run through Thursday, with professional anglers competing for a top prize of up to $115,000. In light of the fatal accident, MLF officials made the decision to cancel the final day of the tournament out of respect for the victims and their families.
The crash took place on Lewis Smith Lake, a sprawling 21,000-acre reservoir located roughly 70 miles north of Birmingham, popular with both recreational boaters and competitive anglers.
In a statement, MLF said it is working closely with ALEA and emergency management officials and will provide additional updates as more information becomes available.
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The Guardian
17-04-2025
- The Guardian
Three dead after boat collision at Major League Fishing event in Alabama
A fishing tournament on Alabama's Lewis Smith Lake turned deadly on Wednesday morning when two boats collided during competition, killing three people and injuring at least three others. The crash occurred around 7am during the second day of the Major League Fishing (MLF) Tackle Warehouse Invitational, prompting the league to cancel the remainder of the event. According to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), the collision involved a Nitro bass boat and a center-console style vessel. One man, identified as Joey M Broom, 58, of Altoona, was fatally injured when the bass boat struck the vessel he was aboard. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Two other men, John K Clark, 44, of Cullman, and Jeffrey C Little, 62, of Brandon, Mississippi, were thrown overboard during the crash. Both men drowned. Their bodies were later recovered from the water. Officials confirmed that multiple individuals were injured in the crash, though their identities and conditions have not been made public. ALEA continues to investigate the incident. MLF confirmed that one of its competitors, Flint Davis of Leesburg, Georgia, was involved in the accident. Davis's role in the crash remains unclear. His boat was still on the lake later in the day, according to local reports. A park manager noted uncertainty as to whether all vessels involved in the crash were officially participating in the tournament. 'This is a heartbreaking moment for our entire organization,' said Kathy Fennel, MLF's executive vice president and general manager. 'Our deepest condolences go out to the families and friends of those affected by this tragedy.' The Tackle Warehouse Invitational had been scheduled to run through Thursday, with professional anglers competing for a top prize of up to $115,000. In light of the fatal accident, MLF officials made the decision to cancel the final day of the tournament out of respect for the victims and their families. The crash took place on Lewis Smith Lake, a sprawling 21,000-acre reservoir located roughly 70 miles north of Birmingham, popular with both recreational boaters and competitive anglers. In a statement, MLF said it is working closely with ALEA and emergency management officials and will provide additional updates as more information becomes available.
The Independent
17-04-2025
- The Independent
Three dead after horrific boat collision at Major League Fishing event
Three people have died, and at least another three were injured in a boating collision during a Major League Fishing competition in Alabama. The two-vessel crash occurred just after 7 a.m. Wednesday during day two of MLF's Tackle Warehouse Invitational on Lewis Smith Lake near the city of Cullman. Joey Broom, 58, of Altoona, John Clark, 44, of Cullman, and Jeffrey Little, 62, of Brandon, Mississippi, were identified as the victims by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Broom, a councilmember in nearby Snead, was believed to be on board the Center Console vessel and was fatally injured when the boat was struck by the Nitro Bass Boat near the Miller Flats portion of the lake, ALEA said. Broom was pronounced dead at the scene. Clark and Little, who were also on board the Center Control Vessel, were thrown overboard during the collision and drowned, the agency said. 'Both individuals drowned and have been pronounced deceased. However, their bodies were recovered near the Miller Flats area of Smith Lake in Cullman County,' ALEA said. At least three other individuals were injured in the incident, as reported by WBMA. Neither the ALEA nor MLF provided further details of the crash or the conditions of those injured. The agency said its Marine Patrol Division is investigating the collision. No information about the driver or passengers on board the Nitro Bass Boat has been released. However, MLF said that competing angler Flint Davis was also involved in the crash. Davis was in 15th place on Monday before the incident. Photographs obtained by WBMA of one of the two vessels believed to be involved in the crash show a 'Flint Davis' decal on the boat's side. Davis issued a short statement on his Instagram story on Wednesday evening: 'I want to thank everyone for the thoughts and prayers. 'I ask that you keep me and all of the other affected people and families in your prayers. I'll let you guys know more when I can.' Alabama Bass Counsel member Allen Johnson said he witnessed the moment one of the boats 'went airborne.' 'Neither one of them saw the other one,' he told CBS affiliate Local 12. "The boat that he hit was kind of at an angle… the drivers went across the front of the boat, across the center console, but it went airborne.' MLF cancelled the final day of the competition, which was due to take place on Thursday. Angler David Kilgore scooped the top prize of $80,000. 'This is a heartbreaking moment for our entire organization,' Kathy Fennel, MLF executive vice president, said in a statement Wednesday afternoon. 'Our deepest condolences go out to the families and friends of those affected by this tragedy.' Joseph Webster, who finished fifth in the tournament, wrote on Instagram: 'Words are hard to come by after today's events. Our prayers are with everyone affected by the tragic accident on Smith Lake.' Alabama State Senator Garlan Gudger Jr sent thoughts and well-wishes to the victims and their families. 'We wanted to let the families know, the people that were in the Major League Fishing wreck on Smith Lake, that our prayers are with you and your families,' Gudger said in a video posted to Facebook.
Reuters
17-04-2025
- Reuters
Three dead in boating crash at Alabama pro fishing tournament
April 17 (Reuters) - Three people died in a boating crash at a Major League Fishing event in Alabama on Wednesday, according to local media. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) said the incident happened after two fishing boats collided at Lewis Smith Lake, the reports said. In addition to three fatalities, the ALEA said three more people were injured. Major League Fishing did not provide further details about the incident and cancelled the final day of competition. Reuters has contacted the ALEA for comment.
