Tragedy and injury can strike at any time, even when things are at their brightest. A recent report by The Harrisburg Examiner illustrates this point poignantly:

Chad Jones, a safety selected by the New York Giants in the third round of the NFL draft this past April, is reported to be in critical condition following a car crash in New Orleans early Friday morning. He may lose his left foot as a result of injuries he sustained in the accident.

The accident occurred around 6:15 a.m. The police report states that Jones crashed his SUV into a utility pole. The 21 year old didn’t sustain any serious internal injuries, but he suffered a shattered left tibia and fibula. In addition, arteries and nerves in the leg were exposed.

According to a report in USA Today, doctors have had difficulty getting blood to flow to Jones’ left foot. He remains at risk of having the foot amputated.

A spokeswoman for the New Orleans police department, Shereese Harper, told The Associated Press that “it was too early in the investigation to know if Jones was speeding,” adding that police will run toxicology reports to see if alcohol was a factor.

Jones, a football and baseball star at LSU, enjoyed the rare distinction of winning national titles in both sports. He recently signed a four-year, $2.6 million contract with the Giants that included a $825,965 bonus at signing.

Upon receiving news of the accident, Jones’s coach at LSU, Les Miles, tweeted “Just got news about Chad Jones’ car accident. We are praying for Chad and his family.”

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Automobile accidents are extremely common and can happen in a split second. A person’s attention is required at all times, and even then the road is still dangerous. Let the story of Chad Jones inspire you toward safer driving.