Jalen Carter was a defensive lineman for the University of Georgia’s Bulldogs football team – and a top pick for this year’s NFL draft. However, Carter has pleaded no contest to misdemeanor reckless driving and racing charges after a crash took the lives of his teammate and a staff member.
The 24-year-old Bulldogs recruiting analyst, Chandler LeCroy, was taken to a nearby hospital but later passed away due to injuries sustained in the crash. UGA offensive lineman Devin Willock, 20, was pronounced dead at the scene. Two other football program members suffered serious injuries in the crash. UGA offensive lineman Devin Willock, 20, was pronounced dead at the scene. His father, Dave Willock, informed the Georgia Board of Regents that he will be pursuing a $2 million civil lawsuit against the university.
A warrant was issued for Carter’s arrest in March before he turned himself in to the Athens police. Carter agreed to serve 12 months of probation, pay a $1,000 fine, complete 80 hours of community service, and take a defensive driving course.
About the Crash
A deadly crash occurred at around 2:45 a.m. on January 15 – only a few hours after the Bulldogs had a parade in downtown Atlanta celebrating their second consecutive national championship win. Carter and one of the deceased, LeCroy, allegedly began racing before they crashed on Barnett Shoals Road. LeCroy then lost control of the vehicle and veered off the road, hitting several power poles and trees.
While racing is reckless enough on its own, police state that LeCroy was intoxicated at the time of the crash. With a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) over two times above the legal limit at .197, LeCroy’s SUV was hitting speeds of 104 mph with Willock in the vehicle.
Carter’s attorneys state that he did not cause the crash, was not inebriated, and did not flee the scene. According to police, “Investigators determined that alcohol impairment, racing, reckless driving, and speed were significant contributing factors to the crash.”
Reckless Driving Statistics in Georgia
Unfortunately, this was just one of the many reckless driving accidents that occur in Georgia each year. According to the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, there were over 400 traffic fatalities due to drunk driving and 380 caused by speeding in just one recent year. The same year also saw over 800 deaths involving roadway departures. Fulton County had the most deaths of any county that year, with 145 traffic fatalities.
Injured in a Reckless Driving Accident? Talk to an Experienced Georgia Reckless Driving Accident Lawyer Today
If you or a loved one were hurt in an accident caused by reckless driving, you shouldn’t have to pay the price. You could be owed compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and other losses you have suffered because of the crash. To learn more about how Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC can help you pursue justice for your injuries, contact us today for a free consultation.
