x
Breaking News
More () »

Louisville car crash survivor Ava Jones not expected to play basketball in school

Ava's high school coach said all four major ligaments in both of Ava's knees are torn, so she "doubts she will ever play basketball again".
Credit: University of Iowa Athletics

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Kansas-native Ava Jones is back in school for the first time since a crash in downtown Louisville changed hers and her family's lives forever.

This update comes from a Facebook post from her mother, Amy Jones, who was also severely injured in the crash. 

According to The Gazette, the Nickerson High School women's basketball coach Lisa Bluder said MRI scans shed more light on the seriousness of Ava Jones' injuries. In addition, The Gazette stated that Blunder said all four major ligaments in both of Ava's knees are torn, so she "doubts she will ever play basketball again".

“I can’t believe she was walking,” Bluder told the university’s Presidential Committee on Athletics. “The doctor said, ‘I’ve never seen a person come in here with four torn ligaments in a knee and not be crying.’”

The Gazette reported the women's basketball program has committed to honoring Ava's scholarship regardless of her ability to play. 

“She’s still somebody that we are going to have as a part of our program because we believe in her. She committed to us, and just because she had something bad happen to her doesn’t mean that we turn our back on her. We’ll be there for her and her family as much as we can,” Bluder said.

On July 5, four members of the Jones family were in Louisville, Kentucky, for Ava's AAU basketball tournament when police say a driver under the influence of opioids hit them with his car.

Trey Jones, husband and father, died days later in the hospital. Creek Jones, 10, suffered a few minor cuts and scrapes, but was otherwise fine. Amy, Trey’s wife, and Ava, Trey’s daughter, suffered more serious injuries: traumatic brain injuries and several broken bones. 

Michael Hurley, the driver that hit the Kansas family, has since been charged with murder, assault and operating a motor vehicle under the influence. Police say he admitted to them he had taken Hydrocodone before driving.

A GoFundMe set up to help the family has also raised more than a $150,000 to support them.

Make it easy to keep up-to-date with more stories like this. Download the WHAS11 News app now. For Apple or Android users.

Have a news tip? Email assign@whas11.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter feed.

Before You Leave, Check This Out