Arrest warrant issued for Jalen Carter in connection with fatal crash
The Athens-Clarke County police have obtained a warrant for the arrest of Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter. Carter is being charged with reckless driving and racing in connection with the January 15 crash that took the lives of UGA recruiting staffer Chandler LeCroy and offensive lineman Devon Willock. Seth Emerson of The Athletic reports that both charges have been confirmed as misdemeanors by the ACC police department.
Carter was set to speak at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine on Wednesday. That was supposed to take place at 10:30 a.m. ET but combine officials let reporters know around 11 a.m. that Carter would not be made available to reporters.
The warrant also revealed more details of the accident. LeCroy was, in fact, intoxicated while operating the vehicle. Her blood alcohol level, as determined by a blood test, was .197. That’s almost two and a half times the legal limit.
The Ford Expedition that LeCroy was operating was traveling 104 miles per hour just before the crash and the case is being submitted to the Athens-Clarke County solicitor general.
“As a result of the ongoing investigation into the January 15, 2023, fatal car crash that occurred in the 900 block of Barnett Shoals Road, the Athens-Clarke County Police Department has secured arrest warrants for Jalen Carter, 21, for Reckless Driving and Racing.
“The investigation found that Chandler LeCroy, driver of the 2021 Ford Expedition, and Jalen Carter, driver of a 2021 Jeep Trackhawk, were operating their vehicles in a manner consistent with racing shortly after leaving the downtown Athens area at about 2:30 AM. 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. Evidence indicated that shortly before the crash the Expedition was traveling at about 104 miles per hour. The toxicology report indicated that LeCroy’s blood alcohol concentration was .197 art the time of the crash. Investigators determined that alcohol impairment, racing, reckless driving and speed were significant contributing factors in the crash.
“The case will be given to the Solicitor General’s Office.”
It was already known that Carter wouldn’t participate in drills at the NFL Combine. He was, however, expected to be in attendance and to speak with media and NFL scouts and executives in Indianapolis. According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, Carter had already met with executives prior to the arrest warrant news breaking.
The Apopka, Fla. native has been projected by most mock drafts as a top five pick. Some even have him being selected No. 1 overall.
