Georgia Football Player Jalen Carter Booked and Released For Alleged Role in Car Accident That Killed Teammate Devin Willock
Georgia Football Player Jalen Carter Booked and Released For Alleged Role in Car Accident That Killed Teammate Devin Willock
University of Georgia offensive lineman, Devin Willock and a football staff member, Chandler LeCroy, were killed in a car accident earlier this year. Now, police officials have issued an arrest warrant for Willock’s teammate, Jalen Carter for his alleged role in the fatal accident.
According to People, on the fateful night of Willock and LeCroy’s death, the two vehicles that were driven had been racing each other before they crashed. In a statement to the media outlet, the Athens-Clarke County Police Department said that Carter is wanted for reckless driving and racing.
CNN reported that the football player surrendered to police in Athens, Georgia, on Wednesday night.
Carter turned himself in at the Athens-Clarke County Jail records reveal. He was booked at 11:33 p.m. and released a short time later at 11:49 p.m.
“The evidence demonstrated that both vehicles switched between lanes, drove in the center turn lane, drove in opposite lanes of travel, overtook other motorists and drove at high rates of speed, in an apparent attempt to outdistance each other.”
Police authorities allege that Carter, driving a 2021 Jeep Trackhawk, and LeCroy, navigating a 2021 Ford Expedition, had been racing against each other shortly after leaving Athens, Ga. right after 2:30 a.m.
At the time of the accident, police believe that LeCroy was speeding at 104 miles per hour while drunk. He had a blood alcohol concentration of .197, at the time of the crash.
BREAKING: Athens-Clarke County PD issued arrest warrants to UGA star defensive lineman Jalen Carter for reckless driving & racing.
Devin Willock, UGA player, & Chandler LeCroy, a staff member, died after crashing their car.
Investigators say alcohol/speed were factors in crash. pic.twitter.com/6YHvJmGYFs
— Patrick Quinn (@PatrickQuinnTV) March 1, 2023
Carter, who is projected to be a top pick, if not the top pick in this year’s NFL draft released a statement via his Twitter account on Wednesday.
“This morning I received a telephone call from the Athens, Georgia, police department informing me that two misdemeanor warrants have been issued against me for reckless driving and racing,” Carter wrote. “Numerous media reports also have circulated this morning containing inaccurate information concerning the tragic events of January 15, 2023.
“It is my intention to return to Athens to answer the misdemeanor charges against me and to make certain that the complete and accurate truth is presented. There is no question in my mind that when all of the facts are known that I will be fully exonerated of any criminal wrongdoing.”
— Jalen Carter (@breadmanjalen) March 1, 2023
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that according to papers obtained from the Athens-Clarke County Police Department that Carter had previously given misleading statements to police officers at the scene of the accident. He allegedly told police officers that he heard the crash from an apartment building nearby. In another statement, he claimed that he had been driving behind LeCroy and also denied he had been racing.
Georgia Football Player Jalen Carter Booked and Released For Alleged Role in Car Accident That Killed Teammate Devin Willock
