One of the biggest stars in mixed martial arts is wanted for questioning after a hit-and-run crash in New Mexico.
Jon “Bones” Jones, the reigning UFC light heavyweight champion, is considered a suspect in a hit-and-run accident Sunday morning, Albuquerque police confirmed to CNN Sports.
According to the police report, a silver SUV made an illegal turn at a red light, hitting a passing car and knocking that car into a third vehicle. The police report says witnesses saw a man exit the silver SUV and flee on foot. Witnesses reported that the man then returned to the SUV where he “grabbed a large hand full of cash,” which he shoved into his pants before jumping a fence and running away.
Inside the silver SUV, responding officers found car rental paperwork bearing the name Jonathan Jones with MMA information on it. The police report also says a marijuana pipe with marijuana inside it was found in the vehicle, and the report lists “drugs or medication” among apparent factors contributing to the accident.
A pregnant woman in her 20s who was driving one of the other vehicles suffered minor injuries in the accident, police said.
“Officers attempted to contact Mr. Jones at his residence Sunday evening, but were unsuccessful,” Albuquerque police said in a statement. “We have also reached out to his lawyer, but as of now, have not heard back.”
Police stressed that they cannot confirm that Jones was involved in the crash. The UFC has issued a statement in which it says it is gathering facts and reserving comment until more information is available. CNN Sports has reached out to Jones’ attorney for comment.
Jones, 27, is arguably the UFC’s biggest star in the sport’s most respected weight class.
But he has also had his struggles. In January, Jones entered a drug rehabilitation center after testing positive for cocaine in a test administered by the Nevada Athletic Commission. He checked himself out of rehab after one day of treatment.
Jones is scheduled to fight Anthony Johnson in UFC 187 on May 23 in Las Vegas.
