UFC star charged after hit-and-run incident

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UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones was arrested Monday in connection with a hit-and-run accident that injured a pregnant woman in Albuquerque, N.M., police spokesman Tanner Tixier told Sporting News. 

Jones was charged with leaving the scene of an accident involving death or personal injuries, a felony. According to Metro Detention Center records, bail was set at $2,500 cash. Jones was booked at 7:11 p.m. MT (9:11 ET) after he turned himself in. Jones' attorney arranged for the fighter to surrender after a warrant for his arrest was issued Monday afternoon.

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Police say Jones' rented Buick SUV collided with a vehicle driven by Vanessa Sonnenberg about 11:20 a.m. Sunday after Jones drove through a stoplight. Jones allegedly left the vehicle, returned to grab money that was inside it, and then ran away again. An off-duty officer identified Jones at the scene, saying he recognized Jones because he is a UFC fan.

Police searched the SUV and found a marijuana pipe, Tixier told reporters Monday (via the Albuquerque Journal). Tixier also said documents inside the vehicle showed Jones' wife rented the SUV.    

Sonnenberg, 25, suffered a broken arm. Her unborn child was not injured.

Jones, 27, is scheduled to defend his title against Anthony Johnson at UFC 187 on May 23. A UFC spokesman told Sporting News on Monday night that the organization is staying abreast of the situation and would have no further comment. 

Steven Muehlhausen is a boxing and MMA writer and contributor for Sporting News. Email him at [email protected] and can find him on Twitter @SMuehlhausenMMA.

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Steven Muehlhausen is a contributing writer for DAZN News. He writes features and news stories, and provides analysis relating to the world of boxing.