UGA football star Jalen Carter says he will return to Athens to answer to the misdemeanor charges against him. The defensive lineman also says he expects to be cleared of any criminal wrongdoing in the wreck that killed one of his teammates and a UGA recruiting staffer in January.
In a statement released on social media Wednesday afternoon, Carter says police notified him by phone that he had been charged in the case.
“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. 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.” – Jalen Carter
Carter’s teammate Devin Willock and UGA football recruiting staffer Chandler LeCroy died in the January 15 wreck on Barnett Shoals Road in Athens. The Athens-Clarke County Police Department says toxicology reports show LeCroy’s blood alcohol level was above the legal limit of .08 at the time of the crash.
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According to police, the investigation found that LeCroy, 24, and Carter, 21, were operating their vehicles in a manner consistent with racing shortly after leaving the downtown Athens area around 2:30 a.m. on January 15. LeCroy was driving a Ford Expedition carrying Willock and two others and Carter was driving a Jeep Trackhawk.
Around 2:45 a.m., the Expedition crashed. Willock was pronounced dead at the scene. LeCroy died at the hospital.
The wreck injured UGA offensive lineman Warren McClendon and UGA recruiting staffer Tory Bowles.
“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,” says Athens-Clarke County Police Department Public Information Officer Lt. Shaun Barnett.
Evidence indicated that shortly before the crash, the Expedition was traveling at about 104 miles per hour.
The toxicology report indicated that LeCroy’s blood alcohol concentration was .197 at the time of the crash. Investigators determined that alcohol impairment, racing, reckless driving, and speed were significant contributing factors to the crash.
Athens-Clarke police confirmed they have been in contact with Carter’s agent and representatives.
“ACCPD has been in contact with Mr. Carter’s representatives, and it is my understanding that Mr. Carter is making arrangements to turn himself in,” says Lt. Barnett. He says the case will now be turned over to the Solicitor General’s Office in Athens.
In a statement released after the police department’s announcement, UGA head coach Kirby Smart called the charges against Carter “deeply disturbing.”
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