MMA fighter in critical condition after being hit by suspected drunk driver

KSN.com reports that professional MMA fighter Carmella James, 24, is in critical condition after being struck by a vehicle in Wichita, KS. James was riding her bicycle at the time.

That outlet reports the vehicle that hit James was being operated by Larry Gaines, 34. He is suspected of being drunk behind the wheel during the incident. He has been arrested by the Sedgwick County’s Sheriff’s Office on suspicion of aggravated battery and DUI and is now in jail on a $100,000 bond.

James, who has fought at strawweight and flyweight, began fighting in amateur MMA in 2016. She won three fights that year and then turned pro in 2017. As a professional James has a record of 0-4. She has competed at Bellator and LFA.

James trains at Laselva MMA and Fitness in Derby, KS. The gym’s owner Marcio Laselva, who has been coaching James for seven years, spoke to KSN about his student.

“Everybody really loved her here,” said Laselva. “She’s just a clown and she’s tough and she helps everybody out.”

Laselva added that James was riding her bicycle to work at 5 a.m. when the incident occurred. He said that James was riding her bicycle because she didn’t have money for gas at that time.

The coach said that James was working to overcome financial troubles and that she had ambitious plans for the future.

“She wanted a platform to talk about Jesus, talk about changes, being a voice for the community that you can actually come out of all these situations. She wanted to be seen as an example that we actually can.”

James reportedly suffered severe head trauma in the collision. Laselva said he, her family, and the local fighting community are asking for prayers as James fights for her life.

Laselva MMA and Fitness has created a gofundeme page to raise money for James’ medical bills. At this time of writing the page had raised $3,210 towards a goal of $5,000.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 29 people in the United States die everyday in motor vehicle crashes that involve an alcohol-impaired driver. This equates to one death every 50 minutes.