Competitors back their boats in the lake at the Major League Fishing Tackle Warehouse Invitational at Lake Hartwell in Anderson, South Carolina, March 14, 2025. (IMAGN)
A tragic boat collision claimed three lives and injured several others on Wednesday morning during a Major League Fishing (MLF) tournament on Lewis Smith Lake in Cullman County, Alabama.
According to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, the crash occurred around 7 a.m. on the second day of the Tackle Warehouse Invitational. Authorities say a bass boat struck a center console vessel, resulting in a deadly collision.
The crash killed three men aboard the center console boat: 58-year-old Joey Broom of Altoona, 44-year-old John Clark of Cullman, and 62-year-old Jeffrey Little of Brandon, Mississippi. The impact threw Clark and Little overboard, and both drowned, officials confirmed. Authorities did not specify how Broom died, but all three victims were pronounced dead at the scene.
Multiple other individuals sustained injuries in the crash, though officials have not released further details. The cause of the accident remains under investigation, and police have declined to share additional information at this time.
In response to the tragedy, Major League Fishing canceled the tournament’s final day, which had been scheduled for Thursday.
“This is a heartbreaking moment for our entire organization,” said Kathy Fennel, Executive Vice President of MLF. “Our deepest condolences go out to the families and friends of those affected by this tragedy.”
MLF stated it is fully cooperating with authorities and is unable to release further information about the incident.
Held annually in Cullman, Alabama, the three-day Tackle Warehouse Invitational features top pro anglers competing for up to $115,000 and a coveted spot in the Championship event set for September.
