One of the NFL Draft’s top prospects allegedly misled police about his whereabouts during a teammate’s fatal car crash. Following an investigation, an arrest warrant was issued for former Georgia Bulldogs defensive tackle Jalen Carter, by the Athens-Clarke County Police Department for reckless driving and racing.
The investigation found that Chandler LeCroy, a recruiting staffer who was driving a car at the time of the fatal accident, and Carter, were operating their respective vehicles in a manner that was consistent with racing in the early hours of Jan. 15. Police found 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 attempt to outdistance each other.
It was determined the 2021 Ford Expedition that LeCroy was driving was traveling at 104 MPH shortly before the crash. The toxicology report also indicated that LeCroy’s blood alcohol level was .197 at the time of the crash. The single-car automobile accident led to the deaths of LeCroy and Devin Willock — an offensive lineman on the Georgia football team.
A spokesperson for Athens-Clarke County confirmed to The Athletic’s Seth Emerson that both charges against Carter are misdemeanors. The news of an arrest warrant comes after the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported earlier Wednesday that Carter allegedly misled police about his level of involvement. The AJC reported that Carter first told police that he was nearly a mile away at the time of the fatal crash. Then, he said he was behind the other vehicle and could see its tail lights, and then later said he was alongside the car when it crashed.
Carter was scheduled to speak to reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine on Wednesday in Indianapolis, but according to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, he was not spotted with the group he was supposed to take his physical with this morning. More details should emerge, but the expectation is that he will likely be arrested according to multiple reports.