Three men died and three other persons were injured in a collision between two boats during a Major League Fishing tournament on Lewis Smith Lake in Alabama on Wednesday.
The fatal crash occurred around 7 a.m. on April 16, on day two of the three-day Tackle Warehouse Invitational. A Nitro bass boat operated by angler Flint Davis reportedly struck a center console vessel carrying several people.
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) identified the victims as Joey Broom, 58, from Altoona; John Clark, 44, from Cullman; and Jeffrey Little, 62, from Brandon, Mississippi. Broom reportedly died at the scene from injuries while Clark and Little were thrown overboard and drowned, per ESPN. Additionally, three more people were injured, but ALEA did not provide further details.
The tragic accident prompted MLF officials to cancel the final day of the tournament.
“This is a heartbreaking moment for our entire organization,” said MLF Executive Vice President Kathy Fennel. “Our deepest condolences go out to the families and friends of those affected by this tragedy.”
Davis, from Leesburg, Georgia, sustained minor injuries in the crash. He later requested prayers for the affected families through social media.
Witnesses suggested that limited visibility near an island on the lake may have contributed to the accident.
“It would have been difficult for both boat drivers to see each other. … This was truly an accident that happened,” professional angler Allen Johnson told WHNT News.
The crash has raised concerns about boating safety during competitive fishing events.
Coincidentally, another boat collision occurred the same morning during a National Professional Fishing League tournament at Lake Norman in North Carolina. An unknown number of people were injured, but no fatalities were reported in that incident.
The ALEA Marine Patrol division is investigating the Smith Lake collision. No charges have been filed at this time.