Father of Kansas family of athletes dies after hit by car

The father of a Kansas family of athletes has died after being hit by an impaired driver, media stores noted Friday.

Four customers of the Jones spouse and children have been strike by a driver even though going for walks on the sidewalk in downtown Louisville on Tuesday night, where College of Iowa basketball commit Ava Jones, who is going into her senior 12 months at Nickerson Significant College, was taking part in in a basketball tournament.

Numerous media stores documented Friday that 42-calendar year-previous Trey Jones was pronounced lifeless on Thursday. The Hutchinson Information said he was being held on daily life support until eventually his organs could be donated.

Jones’ mother, Mary Jones, told the Hutch News which is what he preferred, adding “He would have assisted a ton of people today in lifestyle, but he will do it in loss of life too. That is who he is.”

A UofL Overall health spokesperson stated Friday afternoon that Jones’ spouse, Amy, and daughter, Ava, ended up however in critical situation. Ava’s younger brother reportedly experienced insignificant injuries.

Mary Jones informed the Hutch Information that 17-12 months-previous Ava Jones and 44-calendar year-outdated Amy Jones had been the two nonetheless on ventilators, but physicians had been trying to get Ava Jones off of one particular.

Law enforcement arrested Michael Hurley, a 33-year-previous from Lexington, Ind., after the incident and billed him with four counts of initially-degree assault together with driving beneath the affect and a license possession violation.

According to the law enforcement report, Hurley was turning still left on a downtown road when his vehicle still left the street. Police stated Hurley instructed officers he had taken hydrocodone and was “so fatigued that he could not make the transform.” Adhering to the death of Trey Jones, law enforcement mentioned Hurley will now confront the further demand of murder, in accordance to Television station WHAS.

Ava Jones’ more mature brother, Hunter, a multi-activity standout athlete at Nickerson, was not concerned in the incident. He competes in numerous functions for Pittsburg Condition University’s keep track of and industry group.

The incident comes just two times right after Ava Jones, one particular of the nation’s best class of 2023 basketball recruits, declared her commitment to the Iowa women’s basketball staff. She is a a few-activity, all-state star at Nickerson, exactly where she was a standout volleyball, basketball and observe athlete. Jones, a 6-foot-2 forward, averaged 20.8 details and 15.4 rebounds to power Nickerson to the Course 3A point out basketball semifinals this previous period.

Trey Jones and his spouse Amy ended up both athletes as effectively. Both equally won point out titles in the high leap when they ended up in superior school, in accordance to the Hutch Information, and Trey Jones had established Nickerson Significant College information in the 1990s for javelin and higher bounce.

Ava Jones took gold in the 4A large leap as a sophomore at the Kansas condition satisfy.

A image in the Hutch News displays her hugging her dad, who was her substantial leap coach, just after she received gold all through the point out meet up with at Wichita State’s Cessna Stadium.

Jones taught wooden store and was the head track coach at Nickerson Substantial School. Amy Jones is an assistant superintendent in the district.

A GoFundMe set up to aid the family elevated more than $20,000 in considerably less than a day. The aim was to increase $10,000. It was at practically $30,000 at 4 p.m. Friday.

The “Jones Loved ones Fund” has also been established up at Peoples Lender and Rely on in Hutchinson. Donations can be designed at any of the locations. A candlelight vigil is prepared at 8:45 p.m. Sunday at the Nickerson Higher Faculty keep track of.

Contributing: Taylor Eldridge at The Eagle

This tale was at first published July 8, 2022 5:35 PM.