The triumphs of Caitlin Clark and the heartbreak of Ava Jones underscore the harsh realities of life. Jones’s basketball career has come to an untimely end due to a car accident in 2022 that forever changed her path.
Once teammates on the Iowa Hawkeyes, Clark and Jones saw their journeys diverge after Jones was involved in a collision with a drunk driver. Two years later, Jones has had to retire, having been medically disqualified from collegiate sports.
Jones will remain on scholarship at the University of Iowa, but she will no longer play for Jan Jensen’s team. This decision, announced on June 7, came after consultations with medical professionals.
“I am deeply thankful for my time with the Iowa women’s basketball team,” Jones shared in a social media statement, as reported by Michael Voepel of ESPN. “It’s with great sadness that I announce my medical retirement from college basketball.
“My coaches, medical staff, teammates, and trainers have been incredible throughout this ordeal. Although I won’t be playing, I will still be a scholarship student, receive an excellent education, and always be a Hawkeye.
“I want to thank my family for their unwavering support, and I am looking forward to the next phase of my life.”
The Tragic Event
In an unfortunate twist, Jones wasn’t in a vehicle during the accident that upended her life. She was walking with her family in Louisville, Kentucky, when an erratic driver veered onto the sidewalk, hitting them in July 2022.
The accident claimed the life of her father, Trey Jones, and inflicted brain injuries on her mother. Jones herself suffered a traumatic brain injury, shoulder damage, and torn ligaments in both legs.
The driver, Michael Hurley, faced charges including one count of murder, two counts of first-degree assault, one count of fourth-degree assault, and operating a vehicle under the influence.
Compounding the tragedy, Hurley admitted to using hydrocodone, an opioid, before the accident, while already on probation for drug offenses.
Hydrocodone is prescribed for severe pain and affects the brain’s perception of pain. It can cause drowsiness, dizziness, constipation, respiratory issues, and carries a high risk of addiction and dependence.
