News

Atmore man injured in fatal boat collision

A popular Pace, Fla. bass fisherman was killed, a Semmes man was seriously injured, and an Atmore man escaped with only minor injuries after two bass boats collided March 31 during a fishing tournament on the Tensaw River in Baldwin County.

According to a press release issued by Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, a bass boat operated by Wesley Scott Feely of Atmore struck the side of a bass boat operated by Jackie Dewayne Cox of Pace. The collision occurred around 10:50 a.m. at the river’s confluence with Mifflin Lake, near Live Oak Landing.

Cox, his fishing partner Lee Grandquist of Semmes, and Feely were all ejected from their respective boats. Cox was pronounced dead at the scene; Grandquist was taken by medical evacuation helicopter to University of South Alabama Medical Center in Mobile, and Feely was taken by ambulance to North Baldwin Infirmary, where he was treated for minor injuries and released.

Cox was well known as a competitor in Alabama and Florida bass fishing tournaments. Unconfirmed reports are that Feely was not participating in the tournament at the time of the crash.

The investigation by ALEA’s Marine Patrol Division into the fatal crash is ongoing.