Georgia athletics releases statement on tragic accident, ongoing investigation

Georgia director of athletics Josh Brooks released an official statement on Tuesday pertaining to the events surrounding last week’s fatal car crash involving members of the football program. Offensive lineman Devin Willock and recruiting support staffer Chandler LeCroy were killed in the crash on Barnett Shoals Road last Sunday while two other members of the program, Warren McClendon and Tory Bowles, suffered injuries.

“Out of respect for the families involved, we have refrained from making any public statements up to this point regarding the circumstances of the tragic accident that claimed two lives and injured two members of our campus community. However, we want the public to know that the Athletic Department is conducting a thorough review, in coordination with appropriate legal counsel, to fully understand the circumstances surrounding this tragic event.

“We want to emphasize that these individuals were not engaged in Athletic Department duties around the time of this incident. Our review is preliminary at this time, and the Athletic Department is fully cooperating with law enforcement officials to determine all the facts surrounding this tragedy. Coach Smart and I are also actively reviewing relevant football policies, and at the conclusion of that review, we will take steps to implement any improvements in our policies and procedures that may be needed. Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with the families and friends of all those impacted by this tragic event.”

Details of the accident were released last week in a crash report from Athens Clarke County police. According to the report, the 2021 Ford Expedition with LeCroy at the wheel was headed southbound on Barnett Shoals Road. The vehicle “failed to negotiate a left curve, resulting in the vehicle striking a curb with its front passenger tire and leaving the roadway on the west shoulder. While on the west shoulder [the vehicle] struck a Georgia Power Pole and another utility pole cutting them in half. The vehicle continued south on the shoulder where it struck a tree with its rear passenger quarter panel and caused it to begin rotating clockwise where it stuck another tree with its driver’s side. This caused the vehicle to rotate counter-clockwise prior to achieving final rest against an apartment building located at 930 Barnett Shoals Road.”

The report narrative continues to say that the driver, LeCroy, was transported to Piedmont Athens Regional by ambulance where she was pronounced dead. The front passenger of the vehicle, McClendon, “sustained a laceration in the middle of his head.” He also was transported via ambulance to PARMC. The passenger in the rear side of the vehicle, Willock, was ejected from the vehicle and died at the scene of the collision. The fourth and final passenger of the vehicle, Bowles, was seated in the rear right side and sustained multiple injuries which were redacted from the report. She too was transported by ambulance to Piedmont with what were considered to be serious injuries.

A second vehicle parked in the parking lot was struck as well, and the investigation remains ongoing. Report codes of contributing factors did include “exceeding speed limit.” The posted speed in the area is 40 miles per hour.

Willock, 20, played in all 15 games for Georgia this past season including two starts. He also played as a reserve in 13 games during the 2021 season. The 6-foot-7, 335-pound native of New Milford, N.J. signed with the Bulldogs in the Class of 2020 before redshirting his first year on campus.