ESPN News Services11:25 PM PHT3 Minute Read
Police have obtained arrest warrants for former Georgia star Jalen Carter stemming from the top NFL draft’s alleged involvement in a fatal accident involving a teammate.
The Athens-Clarke County Police Department announced Wednesday that Carter will be arrested for reckless driving and racing.
The announcement came hours after The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that Carter was present at the site of the Jan. 15 crash and later gave police reports of the wreckage.
Devin Willock, an offensive lineman for the Bulldogs, and Chandler LeCroy, a recruiter, were killed in what police initially reported as a single-vehicle accident.
Details of the investigation released Wednesday cited evidence that Carter and LeCroy were “operating their vehicles in a manner consistent with racing” shortly before the accident.
“The evidence showed that both vehicles were changing lanes, traveling in the center turn lane, traveling in opposite lanes, passing other motorists and traveling at high speeds in an apparent attempt to overtake each other,” the statement said called police.
Police investigators have determined that “alcohol impairment, racing, reckless driving and speed were significant factors contributing to the accident”. A toxicology report found LeCroy’s blood alcohol concentration was 0.197 — more than double the legal limit in Georgia — at the time of the crash, police said.
The 2021 Ford Expedition driven by LeCroy was traveling at about 104 mph just before the crash.
Carter will address reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine Wednesday morning in Indianapolis.
According to documents and records of 911 calls reviewed by the Journal-Constitution, at least two vehicles driven by Georgian soccer players had been at the scene, including Carter’s 2021 Jeep Trackhawk, which left the scene before police or emergency services arrived.
Carter returned to the scene less than two hours later, according to the newspaper, which reported that he was asked by police if he was driving the crashed vehicle.
Documents reviewed by the Journal-Constitution show Carter first told police he heard the crash from a nearby apartment complex, but later told an officer he was driving both behind and alongside the SUV that LeCroy was driving may be.
The Journal-Constitution also obtained surveillance video footage from several locations in downtown Athens, Georgia, taken on the night of the crash. Footage, which was also reviewed by police, shows three vehicles exiting the area simultaneously: Carter’s Jeep, LeCroy’s Ford and a 2019 Dodge Charger driven by Bulldogs linebacker Jamon Dumas-Johnson.
Carter denied the race to the officer, who noticed no sign the 310-pound defender had been drinking, according to the Journal-Constitution.
The crash came hours after the Bulldogs celebrated back-to-back national championship wins with a parade and ceremony at Sanford Stadium. Willock, 20, was pronounced dead at the scene, while LeCroy, 24, died shortly after being admitted to hospital.
Police investigators said the Ford driven by LeCroy “failed to negotiate a left hand turn, causing the vehicle to hit the curb with its passenger tire and exit the lane on the west shoulder.”
The SUV struck a Georgia utility pole and another utility pole, cutting them in half before hitting a tree on the rear passenger side quarter panel. This caused the vehicle to spin clockwise before hitting another tree on the driver’s side – where both LeCroy and Willock were seated.
Georgia Department of Sports officials have stated that the SUV driven by LeCroy should only be used for recruiting activities and not for personal use.
According to ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr., Carter is the #1 pick in this year’s draft. He’s not attending the practice portion of this week’s NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis, but will interview teams and undergo a physical.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.