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.