Jalen Carter surrenders to police to face charges stemming from deadly crash

Athens-Clarke County police secured an arrest warrant for former University of Georgia star Jalen Carter in connection to a deadly crash that killed a teammate and football staff member.

Jail records show that Carter turned himself in at the Athens-Clarke County Jail, and was released shortly after.

Records show that Carter was booked at 11:33 p.m. Wednesday and released at 11:49 p.m. that same night.

The warrants charge Carter with reckless driving and racing, both misdemeanor offenses.

The crash happened Jan. 15 on Barnett Shoals Road in Athens, just hours after UGA celebrated their second consecutive championship with a parade in Athens.

Recruiting analyst Chandler LeCroy, 24, and UGA offensive lineman Devin Willock, 20, were both killed in the crash. Two other members of the football program, three year offensive tackle Warren McClendon, 21, and Victoria Bowles, 26, were injured.

Police initially characterized the crash as one that only involved one car.

On Wednesday, police announced they have determined that racing, reckless driving, speed and alcohol impairment contributed to the crash.

Police say LeCroy, who was driving in a 2021 Ford Expedition, and Carter, who driving in a 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk, were racing after they left downtown Athens around 2:30 a.m. that Sunday.

Police determined that LeCroy’s SUV reached speeds up to 104 mph. It is unclear how fast Carter was driving before the crash.

“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,” police said.

Police also released the toxicology report for LeCroy, which determined that her blood alcohol concentration was .197 at the time of the crash. It is more than two times the legal limit. It is unclear if any blood alcohol testing was performed for Carter.

Carter will be charged with reckless driving and racing. It is unclear if Carter will face additional charges.

Channel 2 Action News obtained surveillance video of downtown Athens on the night of the crash that appears to show Carter speeding away from a traffic light.

The car in the video is the same kind of SUV, a 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk, that he signed a deal with an Ohio dealership to promote. The SUV has 707 horsepower and is capable of going from 0 to 60 miles an hour in less than four seconds.

Carter released a statement Wednesday afternoon on his social media accounts.

“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.”

Carter is projected by many to be one of the top picks, if not the top pick, in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Channel 2 sports director Zach Klein is in Indianapolis, where Carter is participating in the NFL Combine. Carter was scheduled to speak Wednesday but did not.

Klein spoke to Carter’s teammate, Nolan Smith about the loss of his teammate and dear friend Devin Willock exclusively on Channel 2 Action News at 5 p.m. It’s the first time Smith has talked publicly about his loss.

“He never did anything wrong... His brother passed like that,” Smith said through tears. “And I’m just sorry to his mama. No one should have to live like that. You know, no one should deserve to die like that.”

Willock would have celebrated his 21nd birthday on Tuesday.

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