ATHENS, Ga. — Athens-Clarke County police secured an arrest warrant for former University of Georgia star Jalen Carter in connection to a lethal crash that killed a teammate and soccer employees member.
Jail information present that Carter turned himself in on the Athens-Clarke County Jail, and was launched shortly after.
Records present that Carter was booked at 11:33 p.m. Wednesday and launched at 11:49 p.m. that very same night time.
The warrants cost Carter with reckless driving and racing, each misdemeanor offenses.
The crash occurred Jan. 15 on Barnett Shoals Road in Athens, simply 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, had been each killed within the crash. Two different members of the soccer program, three yr offensive sort out Warren McClendon, 21, and Victoria Bowles, 26, had been injured.
Police initially characterised the crash as one which solely concerned one automotive.
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On Wednesday, police introduced they’ve decided that racing, reckless driving, velocity 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, had been racing after they left downtown Athens round 2:30 a.m. that Sunday.
Police decided that LeCroy’s SUV reached speeds as much as 104 mph. It is unclear how briskly Carter was driving earlier than 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 mentioned.
Police additionally launched the toxicology report for LeCroy, which decided that her blood alcohol focus was .197 on the time of the crash. It is greater than two instances the authorized restrict. It is unclear if any blood alcohol testing was carried out for Carter.
Carter shall be charged with reckless driving and racing. It is unclear if Carter will face further fees.
Channel 2 Action News obtained surveillance video of downtown Athens on the night time of the crash that seems to indicate Carter rushing away from a site visitors mild.
The automotive within the video is identical sort of SUV, a 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk, that he signed a take care of an Ohio dealership to advertise. The SUV has 707 horsepower and is able to going from 0 to 60 miles an hour in lower than 4 seconds.
Carter launched a press release 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.”
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Carter is projected by many to be one of many prime picks, if not the highest decide, within the 2023 NFL Draft.
Channel 2 sports activities director Zach Klein is in Indianapolis, the place Carter is collaborating within the NFL Combine. Carter was scheduled to talk Wednesday however didn’t.
Klein spoke to Carter’s teammate, Nolan Smith concerning the lack of his teammate and expensive good friend Devin Willock solely on Channel 2 Action News at 5 p.m. It’s the primary time Smith has talked publicly about his loss.
“He never did anything wrong… His brother passed like that,” Smith mentioned via 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.
Athens-Clarke police confirmed they’ve been involved with Carter’s agent and representatives.
“We have been in contact with [Carter’s] representatives, and they were making arrangements for him to turn himself in.”
The spokesperson mentioned he didn’t know when Carter is anticipated to show himself in.
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