He is one of the outstanding players in college football and will be traded up in the upcoming NFL draft – now US authorities are investigating Jalen Carter. The 21-year-old is said to have been involved in a street race that killed two college teammates. Carter, meanwhile, denies the allegations.
It was a tragedy that rocked the American football world. Georgia Bulldogs player Devin Willock, 20, and team analyst Chandler LeCroy, 24, died in a late-night car crash in mid-January.
Now star player Jalen Carter is suddenly in focus. The Bulldogs teammate is said to have been driving a second car which is said to have been involved in the fatal accident. This was announced by the Athens Clark-County Police Department. An arrest warrant was issued and the Attorney General’s Office is now investigating. The authorities accuse him of reckless driving and speeding. The allegations are classified as misdemeanours, i.e. less serious crimes (misdemeanor).
Races on the streets of Athens
The drama happened after the championship celebration on January 15: According to the police, Carter drove through the city of Athens in the state of Georgia at half past two in a jeep and LeCroy in an SUV (in which the late Willock was also sitting). These two cars are said to have competed, drove significantly too fast and also swerved into the oncoming lane. According to police, LeCroy was traveling at 170 km/h. An autopsy showed he was driving under the influence of alcohol.
In a statement published on Twitter, Carter has since defended himself against the allegations.
“This morning I got a call from the Athens Georgia Police Department saying they had an arrest warrant out for me on two counts of reckless driving and speeding. Various media reports this morning also have inaccurate information surrounding them spread the tragic events of January 15, 2023. I intend to return to Athens to answer the allegations and clarify the full truth, There is no question for me that once all the facts have been presented I will be exonerated of the allegations of criminal activity “, reads the statement on the short message service.
Carter is considered a top 5 pick in the NFL draft in late April. There, the NFL teams select the college talents for the coming season. Carter plays the defensive tackle position, a key defensive anchor. He recently canceled the draft combine, where the talents can present themselves. However, he was willing to talk to interested teams. Now there is a big question mark over his sporting future