NEW ORLEANS ― Former LSU baseball and football star Chad Jones got out of surgery Friday afternoon and was visiting his mother and father in the hospital, according to Eyewitness Sports' Juan Kincaid, and his condition is improving.
According to his father, Al Jones, he has been very alert all day Saturday.
In fact, he woke up at 3 a.m., called his parents and told them to come back to the hospital, apparently bored in the room by himself and wanting to talk to someone.
As for his injuries, blood flow has continued at a good rate into his left foot. The main concern is keeping his open wounds from getting infected. Jones' dad also said that his son's leg will not require amputation.
“He looked like Chad,” said his father after seeing him the hospital on Friday. “The surgery was successful. I want to thank everybody for their thoughts and prayers, the numerous phone calls, text messages and e-mails…It just lets you know the type of person Chad is and how well loved he is.”
“It is just a matter of the healing process right now.”
Jones, 21, suffered multiple fractures to his left leg, including shattering both his tibia and fibula, and had arteries and nerves exposed after he slammed into a streetcar pole on North Carrollton Avenue heading towards Canal Street in a one-car accident, an official who spoke on condition of anonymity told Kincaid.
The official also said doctors were attempting to get blood flowing back to Jones' foot and that he had lost a lot of blood as well as lots of skin.
Additionally, Jones didn’t suffer any serious internal injuries and the main artery in his leg was not severed.
NOPD public information officer Shereese Harper said both of the other passengers suffered minor injuries and weren’t taken to the hospital.
Through LSU, Jones' agent Rocky Arceneaux said, "Chad Jones was involved in a serious auto accident early this morning. The severity of Chad's injuries up to this point is unknown. At this point, we are praying for Chad and ask that everyone does the same."
Noon News Report Video: Chad Jones critically injured in morning accident
The 6-foot-3, 231-pound New Orleans native, played in 40 games with the Tigers, starting 19 before forgoing his senior season.
Jones was drafted in the third round of April’s NFL Draft by the New York Giants and recently signed his rookie contract, a four-year deal worth a reported $2.616 million base salary over the life of the contract.
He attended St. Augustine in New Orleans until Katrina and finished high school at Southern Lab in Baton Rouge.
He earned national titles in football in 2007 and baseball in 2009. The Houston Astros picked him in the 13th-round of the Major League Baseball draft in 2007 and in the 50th-round of the 2010 MLB draft.
LSU Head Coach Les Miles tweeted at a short time after learning about Jones' accident, saying, "Just got news about Chad Jones' car accident. We are praying for Chad and his family. Keep him in your prayers."
“We found out very early this morning. Certainly, it’s unfortunate anytime one of yours, one of your players – one of those young men that work so hard for your program – it’s unfortunate,” said Miles. “We’re with him and his family.”
Jones finished his LSU career with 158 total tackles, including two sacks. He also had five interceptions.
He's best remembered on the football field for his hit on Alabama's John Parker Wilson, causing a fumble that LSU recovered, ending the Crimson Tide's chances at an upset over the top-five ranked Tigers.
In 1.2 innings of relief in Game 3 of the College World Series in 2009, Jones didn't allow a run and struck out two as the Tigers went on to win the national championship.
Harper said Jones will be charged with careless operation of a vehicle.
“It was just a sad day,” said LSU baseball Coach Paul Mainieri. “But it could have been worse, it could have been the worst imaginable tragedy. So you have to look at it and thank God that he survived the accident.”
