The Athens-Clarke County Police Department has issued an arrest warrant for Georgia Bulldogs defensive tackle Jalen Carter. Carter was involved in a fatal accident that killed two Bulldogs footballers.
Jalen Carter, who was present at Tuesday’s NFL combine, is charged with reckless driving and speeding. The charges are administrative offences, police told Sports Illustrated.
NFL: Jalen Carter involved in deadly street race
On the morning of January 15, offensive lineman Devin Willock and recruiting analyst Chandler LeCroy were killed in a car crash that injured two other occupants. Although it was initially believed to be a one-car accident, police now believe Carter and LeCroy were racing prior to the early morning incident.
Early in the investigation, Carter told police he was nearly a mile from the car when the accident happened, according to documents obtained by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. However, he later said he was close enough to see the car’s taillights and acknowledged that he was next to the other car. The investigation found that LeCroy and Carter “operated their vehicles in a manner consistent with racing” “soon after leaving downtown Athens at approximately 2:30 a.m.,” according to the ACCPD. Police also said the two drivers drove recklessly, including changing lanes, driving in opposite lanes and driving at high speeds “in an apparent attempt to overtake one another.”
Investigations by the US authorities against Carter
Police stated that LeCroy’s blood alcohol concentration at the time of the incident was 0.197, and investigators determined “that alcohol impairment, race, reckless driving and speed were significant factors contributing to the accident.”
After the arrest warrant was announced, Georgia coach Kirby Smart issued a statement. “The allegations announced today are deeply concerning as we continue to grapple with the devastating loss of two beloved members of our community,” he said. “We will continue to work fully with the authorities as we support the families and consider what we can learn from this terrible tragedy.”
Out for Carter in the 2023 draft
It’s unclear how negatively NFL teams will take the situation regarding Carter’s draft stock. Jalen Carter is considered a possible top pick in the 2023 NFL draft. Two executives who spoke to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer about Carter at the NFL combine said it’s sure to have an impact. A general manager told Breer that while Carter will remain on his draft board, the incident will at least prompt a discussion about whether he should stay there. The general manager said he believed some teams would take him off their roster.
Another team manager went further, telling Breer that this was not the first red flag related to Carter. “There have been concerns before – I don’t know the details, just that it’s pretty bad,” said an AFC -College scouting director. “Prior to this, he had a reputation for never liking the process very much. A lot of the questions were: Well, it’s nothing criminal, but maybe there’s nothing he really loves about football besides matchday. Now you can’t really say that there is nothing criminal.”
This article was written by Joseph Salvador
