David Williams Jr., a professional bowler from Omaha, was fatally injured in a single-vehicle crash in southeast Iowa on Thursday, authorities said.
The 53-year-old — who received a double-lung transplant a year ago — was on his way to a tournament in Clearwater, Florida, the Professional Bowlers Association said on its website.
He was driving a 2018 Mazda CX-3 in Henry County, Iowa, about 11:50 a.m. Thursday and lost control on a highway curve, the Iowa State Patrol said.
The sport utility vehicle swerved into the median, became airborne and went off an embankment between the northbound and southbound lanes, landing on train tracks below, the patrol said.
Williams was taken to a hospital in Iowa City, where he died.
His wife, Sheri Williams, was unavailable for comment Saturday night.
She briefly mentioned her husband’s death on Facebook, linking to a GoFundMe page.
The GoFundMe account said Williams was “a beloved father, husband, great bowler, and friend in his community” who “passed away from injuries sustained in an automobile accident. He leaves behind his wife, Sheri, and their three children and several grandchildren. Dave’s life was full of love, joy and the ability to overcome adversity. While we grieve the loss of him, we celebrate who he was.”
According to the Professional Bowlers Association: “Williams, a double lung transplant recipient, was a 27-year member of the PBA who had won two PBA Regional tournament titles and a PBA50 Regional title in Council Bluffs, Iowa, in 2016.”
After being diagnosed with a hereditary lung disease, the association said, “Williams continued to bowl — commonly with an oxygen tank at his side to assist his breathing between shots.”
There was no immediate word on funeral arrangements.
