Jalen Carter, 21, former Georgia star defensive lineman and top 2023 NFL draft prospect, had a warrant issued for his arrest in connection to a fatal January 15 crash.
According to a report from the NY Post, police issued arrest warrants on March 1 for Carter, who authorities say was allegedly racing and driving recklessly in the crash that killed one of his teammates and a team staffer. An investigation by Athens-Clarke County Police alleges that Carter was driving a 2021 Jeep Trackhawk “in a manner consistent with racing” on the morning Georgia player Devin Willock, 20, and recruiting analyst Chandler LeCroy, 24, died.
“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,” the Athens-Clarke County Police Department said in a release Wednesday morning.
Additional evidence alleges LeCroy’s vehicle was “traveling at about 104 miles per hour,” before the crash. Carter, who was at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis when his arrest warrants were announced, faces misdemeanor charges of reckless driving and racing. In a statement issued on Twitter, Carter claimed that multiple media reports had spread “inaccurate,” information regarding the crash.
“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 in part. “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.”
https://twitter.com/breadmanjalen/status/1630994706795581440?s=20
The deadly crash occurred in the hours following the Bulldog’s second straight national championship. Details of the warrant state LeCroy’s blood-alcohol concentration was .197 at the time of the crash — which was well over the legal limit in Georgia of .08. According to a report from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Carter purportedly told police he was about a mile away from the crash, and then later said he was following the car when it crashed.
Carter also allegedly told authorities he was alongside the other car and the police report states that Carter left the crash scene and returned 90 minutes later.
Carter played for the University of Georgia for three seasons between 2020 and 2022. Last year he racked up 32 total tackles, 16 of which were solo among another 16 assisted. He also notched three sacks and two forced fumbles. In 2021, Carter put up nearly an identical stat line with 37 total tackles, 17 of which were solo with the other 20 serving as assists, along with three sacks.
Watch the special report on Carter’s alleged involvement in the crash below.
Former Georgia Bulldogs defensive lineman Jalen Carter, one of the top prospects in the NFL draft, is facing criminal charges in connection with the crash that killed his teammate and a recruiting staff member. pic.twitter.com/euQkvZOj79
— CBS Evening News (@CBSEveningNews) March 2, 2023