ATLANTA — Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter, projected as one of the top players in next month’s NFL draft, has been charged with reckless driving and racing in conjunction with the crash that killed offensive lineman Devin Willock and a recruiting staff member.
The Athens-Clarke County Police Department has issued an arrest warrant, obtained Wednesday by The Associated Press, that alleges Carter was racing his 2021 Jeep Trackhawk against the 2021 Ford Expedition driven by the recruiting staffer, 24-year-old Chandler LeCroy,
which led to the Jan. 15 wreck.
Carter had been due in Indianapolis on Wednesday for the NFL’s scouting combine, and he is expected to address the arrest warrant when he returns to Athens, according to Lt. Shaun Barnett of the Athens-Clarke County Police Department.
“It is my understanding that Mr. Carter is making arrangements to turn himself in,” Barnett said in an e-mail to the AP.
Carter, one of six players who was not present Wednesday for scheduled media interviews at the combine, issued a statement on his Twitter account saying he expects to be “fully exonerated of any criminal wrongdoing.”
The crash occurred just hours after the Bulldogs celebrated their second straight national championship with a parade and ceremony.
Georgia Coach Kirby Smart expressed his concern about the charges in a statement issued Wednesday.
“The charges announced today are deeply concerning, especially as we are still struggling to cope with the devastating loss of two beloved members of our community,” Smart said.
“We will continue to cooperate fully with the authorities while supporting these families and assessing what we can learn from this horrible tragedy.”
According to the arrest warrant, the investigation by Athens police found that LeCroy and Carter were operating their vehicles “in a manner consistent with racing” after leaving downtown Athens at about 2:30 a.m.
The warrant says evidence shows the vehicles switched lanes, drove in the center turn lane, drove in opposite lanes, overtook other motorists and drove at high rates of speed “in an apparent attempt to outdistance each other.”
Police determined LeCroy’s
Expedition was traveling at about 104 mph shortly before the crash. The warrant says LeCroy’s blood-alcohol concentration was .197 at the time of the crash. The legal limit in Georgia is .08.
Willock, 20, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. LeCroy was transported to a hospital, where she died from her injuries.
WOMEN’S LACROSSE
ST. JOSEPH’S 13, SOUTHERN MAINE 5: Carson Battaglia scored five goals and Lydia Dexter collected two goals and five assists for the Monks (2-0) in a win over the Huskies (0-2) at Standish.
Brianna Paul added three goals and two assists.
Cierra Hill tallied a pair of goals for USM.
PLYMOUTH STATE 15, UNIVERSITY OF NEW ENGLAND 9: Olivia Croke had three goals and three assists, and Morgan White also scored three times for UNE (1-1) in a loss to the Panthers (1-0) at Plymouth, New Hampshire.
MEN’S LACROSSE
JOHNSON & WALES 8, SOUTHERN MAINE 7: Schuyler Wetmore had two goals and two assists, Andrew James also scored twice and Nick James recorded a goal and two assists, but USM (0-2) lost to the Wildcats (1-0) in Providence, Rhode Island.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
INDIANA: Mackenzie Holmes of Gorham was honored Tuesday as the Big Ten’s Defensive Player of the Year after leading the Hoosiers to their first outright regular-season conference championship.
Holmes, a 6-foot-3 senior who has a year of eligibility remaining, is the Hoosiers’ first Defensive Player of the Year. She also was a unanimous choice as to the all-conference first-team, which includes teammate Grace Berger, and Teri Moren was voted Coach of the Year.
Holmes is averaging 22.5 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.9 blocks while shooting 69.5 percent from the floor – the second-best percentage in the nation.
Holmes and the Hoosiers begin their quest for the Big Ten tournament title at 12:30 p.m. Friday against Nebraska or Michigan State.
(19) UCLA 81, ARIZONA STATE 70: Emily Bessoir scored 17 points, including two 3-pointers in overtime, as fifth-seeded UCLA (23-8) beat 12th-seeded Arizona State (8-20) in a Pac-12 Tournament first-round game in Las Vegas.
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