Bass Pro Tour veteran Alton Jones and his wife, Jimmye Sue, were involved in an auto accident Wednesday while driving to the Detroit area for General Tire Stage Six Presented by John Deere Utility Vehicles on Lake St. Clair. The Joneses were driving south from Saginaw Bay, Michigan – where Jones was pre-practicing for Stage Seven in early August – when the accident happened, causing their truck to overturn and Alton’s boat to be ejected from the trailer.
Alton was uninjured except for what he describes as “bumps and bruises.” Jimmye Sue sustained a broken sternum and other minor injuries, but is otherwise well and is currently receiving treatment in an area hospital. Jones’ truck is totaled, and his competition boat is “severely damaged at best” according to Jones.
Jones is currently unclear about his status for Stage Six, which starts on Saturday, but has not ruled out the possibility of competing out of a borrowed boat when Group B qualifying competition begins on Sunday, June 25.
“Right now the tournament is secondary, we’re all just thankful to be here – God was looking out for us,” Jones said.