Jalen Carter Charged in Connection with Accident that Killed UGA Lineman Devin Willock

Athens-Clarke County Police have charged 21-year-old Jalen Carter, a former UGA defensive lineman, in connection with the accident in January that killed UGA offensive lineman 20-year-old Devin Willock and Toccoa native and UGA staff member Chandler LeCroy.

In a press release issued by Athens-Clarke County Police Wednesday to WSB Radio, warrants were issued for Carter on multiple charges for Reckless Driving and Racing.

Additionally, the Atlanta-Journal Constitution reported Wednesday that Carter had initially told investigators he was nowhere near the crash scene that night.

The crash happened about 2:30a the night of January 15 in the 900 block of Barnett Shoals Road in Athens just hours after the Bulldogs celebrated their national championship victory.

According to the press release, the investigation found that LeCroy, the driver of the 2021 Ford Expedition, and Carter, the driver of a 2021 Jeep Trackhawk, were operating their vehicles in a manner consistent with racing shortly after leaving the downtown Athens area.

The report said the evidence gathered by investigators 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.

Investigators say evidence indicated that shortly before the crash the Expedition was traveling at about 104 miles per hour.

According to the initial incident report, LeCroy and Willock were killed when LeCroy’s SUV failed to negotiate a curve, went off the road and struck a power pole and another utility pole, slicing them in half, before striking a tree on the rear passenger quarter panel.

The impact sent the vehicle spinning in a clockwise direction before it slammed into another tree on the driver’s side — where both LeCroy and Willock were sitting, and came to a final rest against an apartment building.

The report said Willock was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene.

LeCroy, who was wearing a seatbelt, died from her injuries shortly after being taken to Piedmont Hospital in Athens.

She was a graduate of the University of Georgia in 2020 with a Masters Degree and was employed with the University Of Georgia Athletic Department as a Recruiting Analyst.

Two other people in LeCroy’s car, offensive lineman Warren McClendon and Georgia football Staff member Victoria Bowles were injured.

McClendon suffered minor injuries but Bowles was hospitalized with multiple, serious injuries.

Investigators in Athens say they plan to turn the case over to the Solicitor General’s Office.