CNN
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University of Georgia soccer standout Jalen Carter surrendered to police in Athens, Georgia, Wednesday night time on fees associated to a crash that killed his teammate and a group staffer hours after they celebrated the Bulldogs’ nationwide championship victory.
Carter – who has been projected as a high decide within the NFL draft subsequent month – turned himself in on the Athens-Clarke County Jail on fees of reckless driving and racing, jail information present. He was booked at 11:33 p.m. and launched a short while later at 11:49 p.m.
Carter’s teammate Devin Willock and soccer group employees member Chandler LeCroy had been killed within the January 15 crash, which occurred hours after the group participated in a parade by means of campus to rejoice its second consecutive nationwide title.
LeCroy was driving a Ford SUV close to the campus with Willock and two different members of the soccer program additionally within the car, police have stated. The SUV was touring “about 104 miles per hour” earlier than it veered off the street and slammed into two energy poles and a number of other timber, Athens-Clarke County police stated.
Authorities stated Carter was driving a separate car and he and LeCroy gave the impression to be racing.
“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,” Athens-Clarke County police stated.
Carter responded to the allegations in a press release posted on his verified Twitter account Wednesday, writing, “This morning I obtained a phone name from the Athens Georgia police division informing me that two misdemeanor warrants have been issued in opposition to me for reckless driving and racing.
“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,” he wrote.
Carter spoke to police the night time of the crash, in accordance with Lt. Shaun Barnett of the Athens-Clarke County police.
Georgia head soccer coach Kirby Smart stated the costs introduced in opposition to Carter 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,” Smart stated in a written assertion.
Investigators have additionally stated alcohol gave the impression to be an element within the lethal crash.
Toxicology outcomes present LeCroy, who was driving a college car not approved to be used on the time of the crash, had a blood alcohol focus of .197 – greater than twice the authorized restrict in Georgia, police stated.
Willock was ejected and died on the scene and LeCroy died at an area hospital. The two different passengers within the car had been injured, officers stated.
Carter, who will skip his senior season, has been thought-about the potential No. 1 general decide within the upcoming NFL draft this April. He was a key a part of Georgia’s vaunted protection that allowed the fewest speeding yards per sport (77.1) in 2022 and was named to a number of All-America groups.
