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An arrest warrant was issued for Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter in connection to a fatal January crash that killed two members of the Bulldogs’ football program. Carter is charged with the misdemeanor charges or reckless driving and racing.
On the morning of Jan. 15, offensive lineman Devin Willock and recruiting analyst Chandler LeCroy were killed in a car crash that injured two other passengers At the beginning of the investigation, Carter told police that he was nearly a mile away from the car when the crash happened, but later said he was close enough to see the car’s taillights and acknowledged he was alongside the other car. Police now believe Carter and LeCroy were racing before the early-morning incident, after initially believing it to have been a single-car crash. The investigation found that LeCroy and Carter “were operating their vehicles in a manner consistent with racing shortly after leaving the downtown Athens area at about 2:30 AM,” and police also said the two drivers engaged in reckless driving, including switching between lanes, driving in opposite lanes of travel and driving at high rates of speed “in an apparent attempt to outdistance each other.” Police said LeCroy’s blood alcohol concentration was 0.197 at the time of the incident, and investigators determined “that alcohol impairment, racing, reckless driving and speed were significant contributing factors to the crash.”
Carter acknowledged the warrants on Wednesday afternoon, tweeting: “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. The statement also claimed that some reports about the January crash and charges against him are inaccurate. 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.”
After the news was the warrant was made public, Georgia coach Kirby Smart also released a statement: “The charges announced today are deeply concerning, especially as we are still struggling to cope with the devastating loss of two beloved members of our community. We will continue to cooperate fully with the authorities while supporting these families and assessing what we can learn from this horrible tragedy.”
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