In a tragic incident that has shaken the bass fishing community, 22-year-old professional angler Flint Davis from Leesburg, Georgia, faces serious criminal charges following a high-speed boat collision on Lewis Smith Lake in Cullman County, Alabama. The crash, which occurred during a Major League Fishing (MLF) tournament on April 16th, resulted in the deaths of three men and severe injuries to two others. On Friday of last week, authorities released harrowing video evidence, highlighting the preventable nature of the accident and prompting further calls for enhanced safety measures in competitive fishing events.
The accident unfolded around 7:03 a.m. on a calm, clear morning near the Miller Flats area of Smith Lake. Davis was piloting a Nitro Z21 bass boat at an estimated speed of 67 mph as part of the Tackle Warehouse Invitational, the second day of a three-day MLF event. His vessel collided with an anchored 2007 Cape Craft CC22 center-console boat carrying a group on a company-sponsored striped bass fishing trip.
The impact was obviously catastrophic. Davis' boat went airborne, ejecting occupants from the anchored vessel into the water. Three men—Joey M. Broom, 58, of Altoona, Alabama; John "Kelly" K. Clark, 44, of Cullman, Alabama; and Jeffrey C. Little, 62, of Brandon, Mississippi—drowned at the scene. The two survivors, guide Gary W. Holcomb, 51, of Cullman, and Luke H. Morgan, 30, of Albertville, Alabama, sustained serious injuries and were treated at UAB Hospital in Birmingham.
As rumors began to swirl about the atmospheric conditions on that fateful day, Cullman County District Attorney Champ Crocker cleared the water, so to speak, at a press conference last week. There, at the request of the victim’s families, he released damning footage of the crash, showing Davis' boat speeding directly toward the stationary vessel without any attempt to slow down or veer away.
Chief Matt Brooks of the Alabama Marine Patrol described the footage as a stark illustration of boating safety failures, emphasizing that Davis had "no excuse" for missing the clearly visible boat under ideal conditions.
The release of the video—unusual for an ongoing criminal case—aimed to raise public awareness about water safety, comparing lake navigation rules to those on highways. Viewers have been warned of its disturbing content, which depicts the violent collision, debris scattering, and people being thrown into the water.
Investigators from the Alabama Marine Patrol determined that "operator inattention" and "distraction" were the primary causes, with no evidence of alcohol involvement. Davis, who was also injured and treated at Cullman Regional Hospital, had an unobstructed view of the anchored boat for over a mile but was found to have taken no evasive action.
A Cullman County grand jury indicted Davis on October 2nd, following a unanimous decision by its 18 members. The charges include three felony counts of reckless manslaughter, one for each death, and two felony counts of first-degree assault for the injuries to Holcomb and Morgan. Additionally, there are three misdemeanors: reckless operation of a vessel, failure to follow boating rules of the road, and operating without a boater safety certification.
Davis was booked into the Cullman County Jail on a $115,000 bond and released shortly thereafter.
In addition to the charges, the grand jury issued recommendations for improving safety in Alabama fishing tournaments, including requiring proof of boating certifications, mandatory safety education sessions, and holding organizers accountable for the well-being of participants and the public.
The criminal case is paralleled by civil actions seeking accountability. In September, Lisa Little, widow of Jeffrey C. Little, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Davis, MLF, MLF President Boyd Duckett, and Holcomb's guide service.
Similarly, the family of Joey Broom has initiated a wrongful death suit against Davis. Attorneys representing the families, such as Hunter Garnett for the Brooms, have hailed the indictment as a crucial step toward justice.
