Jalen Carter turns self in, booked and released after posting bond
Jalen Carter — the former Georgia star who been projected as a potential No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft — turned himself in for alleged reckless driving and racing in the fatal wreck of his former Bulldogs teammate Devin Willock.
Per Jake Rowe of DawgsHQ, Carter was booked at the Athens-Clarke-County jail and subsequently released on bond, posting a bond of $4,000 for the charges.
“Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter turned himself in late Wednesday night on misdemeanor chargers of reckless driving and racing. A warrant for his arrest was issued earlier in the day,” wrote Rowe. “Athens-Clarke County Police determined that Carter was racing recruiting staffer Chandler LeCroy in the early morning hours of January 15, resulting in a crash that took the lives of LeCroy and offensive lineman Devin Willock.
“According to the Athens-Clarke County jail log, Carter was booked at 11:33 p.m. ET and released 16 minutes later. The bond, in total, was $4,000. It’s broken down as $1,500 for reckless driving and $2,500 for racing on the streets/highways.”
Moreover, the possibility first came to light when the Athens Police Department issued an arrest warrant for the former Georgia defensive lineman on Wednesday.
“As a result of the ongoing investigation into the January 15, 2023, fatal crash that occurred in the 90C 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 statement read.
“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 eact 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 at the time of the crash. Investigators determined that alcohol impairment, racing, reckless driving, and speed were significant contributing factors to the crash.
“The case will be given to the Solicitor General’s Office.”
Additionally, a report from the AJC on Wednesday told the masses that Carter was reportedly present at the scene of the fatal crash.
Carter originally told authorities he had been more than a mile away from the accident when it took place, per a report from the AJC. However, he later reportedly admitted he was close enough to see the vehicle’s taillights.
According to the AJC, authorities have obtained surveillance videos to try to see what took place before the incident.
“Police had reason to suspect almost from the moment of the crash that other cars had been at the scene, and they soon learned at least two of those vehicles were driven by Georgia football players,” according to the AJC’s Alan Judd and Dylan Jackson. “Seeking evidence of possible racing, officers have obtained surveillance video from city-owned cameras along the route the players took out of downtown Athens. They also obtained footage from at least one business owner.”
Continuing, the AJC added that Carter’s account of the incident was inconsistent, and his story changed upon being videotaped during an interview.
“In a videotaped interview, Carter gave the officer an inconsistent account of what he knew about the crash, the documents reviewed by the Journal-Constitution show,” reported the AJC. “Carter first said he heard the wreck from an apartment complex nearly a mile away. Later, he said he witnessed it from a shorter distance, telling the officer both that he had been behind and beside the car that crashed.
“Carter denied racing and said he had not been driving fast. But he told the officer that occupants of the car that crashed were intoxicated, the documents say. Carter said he had seen the group downtown. The officer saw no sign that Carter had been drinking, however, the records say.”
The AJC also reported that Carter has been ticketed for speeding prior, ticketed and fined $1,013 for driving 89 in a 45 mph zone back on Sept. 22.
At the time of the warrant, Jalen Carter was in Indianapolis for the 2023 NFL Combine. Over his three seasons at Georgia, he amassed 83 total tackles, 6.0 sacks and two forced fumbles.