Georgia football coach Kirby Smart said the accusations surrounding Bulldogs star defensive lineman Jalen Carter, and his alleged involvement in a crash that killed one of his teammates and a team staffer, are “deeply concerning.”
Shortly after police issued arrest warrants Wednesday for Carter in connection with the Jan. 15 crash, Smart released a statement addressing the charges.
“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 Wednesday.
“We will continue to cooperate fully with the authorities while supporting these families and assessing what we can learn from this horrible tragedy,” he continued.
Carter, who has been in Indianapolis this week for the NFL Scouting Combine, was driving a 2021 Jeep Trackhawk “in a manner consistent with racing” the morning that his Bulldogs teammate, Devin Willock, and the team’s recruiting analyst, Chandler LeCroy, were killed, according to Athens-Clarke County Police.
Police announced Wednesday that racing, reckless driving, speed, and alcohol impairment all contributed to the crash, which took place just hours after the school’s parade for its second straight national championship.
LeCroy was behind the wheel of a 2021 Ford Expedition that reached about 104 miles per hour prior to the crash, according to police.
It’s not clear how fast Carter, 21, was driving.
Carter told police he was about a mile away from the crash, according to an Atlanta Journal-Constitution report, then later said he was following the car that crashed.
Per the report, Carter then told the authorities he was alongside the other car.
Further, the report said Carter left the scene of the crash before returning 90 minutes later.
“We are in contact with his representatives,” Lt. Shaun Barnett told reporters. “It was my understanding that his representatives were making arrangements [to turn himself in].”
Carter was slated to meet with the media at the combine on Wednesday but the session was canceled once the news broke.
In a statement posted Wednesday on Twitter, Carter said it is his “intention to return to Athens to answer to the misdemeanor charges against” him, and “to make certain that the complete and accurate truth is presented.”
