Garlan Gudger is doing “amazingly well” after jet ski accident, but suffered broken ribs, says his mother

Alabama Republican State Senator Garlan Gudger Jr. of Cullman is doing “amazingly well” after being involved in a jet ski accident with his son on Thursday, his mother said Friday.

“I just spoke to his doctor and he is doing remarkably well considering he was run over by a jet ski!!,” Dot Denning Gudger posted on Facebook.

Gudger suffered broken ribs and a fractured vertebra in the accident at Smith Lake, his mother said.

“All this is causing a lot of pain, especially in his back,” she said.

According to Gudger’s mother, doctors hope to get him back on his feet and walking on Friday.

“I’m afraid that’s what’s going to happen to him, so please pray because it’s going to be very painful,” she said. “Thank you all again and keep praying for us because that’s what we need more than anything right now.”

The 49-year-old senator from Cullman was driving a 2024 Sea-Doo GTI on Sunday afternoon when the watercraft was struck in the rear by another Sea-Doo driven by his son, 21-year-old Garlan E. Gudger III, ALEA Trooper Sgt. Jeremy Burkett said Friday.

The collision occurred at 3:15 p.m. Thursday in the area of ​​Little Crooked Creek, also known as Rock Creek, on Smith Lake in Cullman County.

Burkett said both drivers were thrown into the water by the accident, but both were wearing flotation devices.

Burkett said passersby in the area helped the father and son out of the water and took them to a nearby dock.

Gudger Jr. was flown by helicopter to UAB Hospital, where he remained in intensive care after undergoing surgery. He suffered internal bleeding and other injuries, according to a statement from the Alabama Senate.

Gudger III was examined by paramedics and released at the scene.

Gudger’s wife Heather issued the following statement late Thursday night:

“To the first responders who quickly arrived on the scene, to the members of the Helicopter Air Transport Unit, to the doctors and nurses at UAB and to everyone else who assisted in this accident, we extend our deepest thanks and appreciation to each of them for preventing a difficult situation from becoming even worse.”

“To everyone across the state who has reached out to our family with prayers for recovery and comfort, we feel your support and know that God holds Garlan in His healing hands.”

“Anyone who knows Garlan knows he is a strong, tough and energetic man who will recover from these injuries and continue to serve the citizens of his district while promoting the conservative Alabama values ​​that so many of us hold dear.”

According to a biography on the Alabama Senate Republicans website, the Republican from Cullman was elected to the state Senate in 2018.

Both the Crane Hill Fire Department and Cullman EMS arrived at the scene and assisted with medical treatment and transportation.

The investigation is being continued by ALEA’s Marine Patrol Division.