NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Chad Jones, a two-sport star at LSU who was drafted by the New York Giants, underwent surgery Friday following a dawn accident in which his SUV hit a pole.
Jones was admitted to the LSU Public Hospital in New Orleans in guarded condition. His agent, Rocky Arceneaux, said the extent of the injuries was not immediately known. He added that the 21-year-old player was alert when taken to the hospital and was still in surgery in the early afternoon.
It was not clear what caused Jones to lose control of his vehicle at about 6 a.m. on a six-lane thoroughfare with a streetcar line on the west side of the city, police spokeswoman Shereese Harper said.
Jones was extracted from the vehicle, but the two other men riding with him were fine, Harper said. She said it was too early in the investigation to know if Jones was speeding, and police will run toxicology reports to see if alcohol was a factor.
Jones, a safety, was drafted in the third round. He was part of the Tigers’ 2007 national championship team and also was a left-handed relief pitcher for the 2009 LSU baseball team that won the 2009 College World Series. He was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers weeks after the Giants selected him in the NFL draft.
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.