Jalen Carter, a prominent NFL draught prospect, was accused with reckless driving and racing in an incident that killed a teammate and a recruiting staff member.
According to an arrest warrant acquired by The Associated Press, Carter was racing his 2021 Jeep Trackhawk against Chandler LeCroy’s 2021 Ford Expedition, which caused the Jan. 15 crash.
The statement came hours after The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that Carter was at the collision site and gave police conflicting versions.
Police first reported a single-vehicle crash that killed Bulldogs offensive tackle Devin Willock and LeCroy.
Carter was jailed for careless driving and racing on highways/streets, both misdemeanours, at 11:33 p.m. ET Wednesday and released at 11:49 after paying a $4,000 bond, according to online records. April 18 was arraignment day.
Carter was set to talk to reporters at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis on Wednesday, but a league representative told reporters that Carter and five other players were still undergoing physicals.
Source: Sports Illustrated
Carter stated on Wednesday afternoon that he will travel to Athens to “address the misdemeanour allegations against me and to make certain that the whole and exact truth is given.”
Carter hopes to be “totally exonerated of any criminal conduct.” The inquiry, revealed Wednesday, found Carter and LeCroy were “driving their cars in a manner consistent with racing” before the incident.
The police statement claimed both cars altered lanes, drove in the centre turn lane, drove in opposing lanes, overtook other motorists, and drove at high speeds, in an apparent attempt to outdistance each other.
Authorities said “alcohol impairment, racing, reckless driving, and speed were important contributing causes to the collision.” Police said a toxicology result showed LeCroy’s blood alcohol percentage was.197, more than twice Georgia’s legal limit, at the time of the collision.
LeCroy’s Vehicle crashed at 104 mph.
“The accusations announced today are profoundly disturbing, especially as we are still fighting to cope with the terrible death of two valued members of our community,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said. “We will completely cooperate with the authorities while helping these families and learning from this sad incident.”
The Journal-Constitution investigated 911 calls and paperwork showing at least two Georgia football players’ vehicles near the site, including Carter’s Jeep, which fled before police or emergency services arrived.
According to the article, Carter returned to the site less than two hours later and was questioned by police about racing the damaged vehicle.
Carter first told police he heard the accident from a neighbouring apartment complex, but he subsequently informed an officer he had been driving alongside and behind LeCroy’s SUV, according to Journal-Constitution documents.
The Journal-Constitution got CCTV footage from numerous downtown Athens locales from the crash night. Police evaluated the film, which shows Carter’s Jeep, LeCroy’s Ford, and Bulldogs linebacker Jamon Dumas-2019 Johnson’s Dodge Charger leaving the location simultaneously.
According to the Journal-Constitution, Carter denied racing and showed no symptoms of alcohol consumption.
After a procession and ceremony at Sanford Stadium, the Bulldogs crashed. Willock died on site. 20-year-old. Upon hospitalisation, LeCroy died.
“The car struck the kerb with its front passenger tyre and fled the roadway on the west shoulder,” according to police.
Read Also: Matthew Kuhnemann Wife: Is Australian Cricketer Married?
