Philadelphia Eagles rookie Jalen Carter and the University of Georgia Athletic Association are being sued over a fatal car accident following the Bulldogs’ national championship win over TCU in January.
Bulldogs offensive lineman Devin Willock and scouting staffer Chandler LeCroy died in the January 15 crash in Athens, Georgia, after a reckless driving incident believed to be caused by racing street. LeCroy was driving the crashed SUV, while allegedly racing Carter in his car.
Victoria Bowles, a former college recruiting analyst who survived the crash, filed her lawsuit against Carter, a former Bulldogs star, and the UGA Athletic Association on Wednesday in Gwinnett County, Georgia. The filing accuses the athletic association of negligence for allowing a department staff member to drive the rental SUV.
Bowles, who was a passenger in the SUV that crashed, is seeking damages and claims she was forced to pay more than $170,000 in medical bills after suffering “probable permanent disability.”
The lawsuit lists his injuries as: three lumbar fractures, five fractured vertebrae, 10 broken ribs, a broken clavicle, fractured and cracked teeth, kidney and liver lacerations, perforated and collapsed abdominal and lung bleeding, as well as possible neurological damage and eye problems.
Bowles (right), a survivor in the crashed SUV, filed her lawsuit against Carter on Wednesday.
Carter received 12 months of probation after pleading no contest to the misdemeanor charges.
In March, Carter received 12 months of probation and a $1,000 fine after pleading no contest to lesser reckless driving charges. The charges did not affect his draft status, and Carter was taken ninth overall by the NFC champion Eagles.
But according to the lawsuit, Carter illegally left the scene without speaking to police or offering help to the crash victims who were dead, dying or seriously injured. Instead, the lawsuit claims, Carter quickly fled in an apparent effort to shield himself from charges or negative publicity.
Despite LeCroy’s passenger, [former Georgia offensive lineman Warren McClendon]Telling him that he could not locate Devin Willock, Defendant Carter left the scene after less than 10 minutes when another UGA football player on the scene yelled at him, ‘Hey… hey, JC… you might want to go. . Go ahead and go find the f— in you…” read the lawsuit, which was provided to DailyMail.com by Bowles’ lawyer.
‘As Defendant Carter knew at the time, he was jointly responsible for the accident and had a legal duty to remain on the scene. Instead, in part obviously fearful of the bad publicity and its effect on his NFL draft status, he hoped he would not be questioned or take any responsibility for his actions.
The lawsuit also accuses the athletic association of being negligent in allowing LeCroy to drive the rental vehicle. He also disagrees with the associations’ assertion that ‘hire vehicles had to be delivered upon the immediate completion of the recruitment efforts’.
‘On the night of the championship celebration, LeCroy told Mrs. Bowles that she [LeCroy] he had “permission” to keep the truck “until tomorrow,” the lawsuit said.
Numerous text messages from recruiting staff supervisors to LeCroy, Ms. Bowles and other staff show that the Association’s statement is false. Recruiting staff were regularly informed that they could leave their personal vehicles overnight at the Butts-Mehre football facility and use Association rental vehicles with permission until a specified cut-off date and time, unrelated to their duties of assigned recruiting activity.’
Georgia football player Devin Willock and staff member Chandler LeCroy died in the January crash
Members of the Georgia soccer program have been involved in at least 10 reports of traffic-related moving violations in Athens-Clarke County since a fatal crash on January 15 (pictured)
Bowles’ lawsuit accuses Carter of leaving the scene of the accident before police arrived.
LeCroy was allegedly driving over 104.2 mph when the SUV crashed into trees and power poles. His blood alcohol level was measured at more than twice the legal limit.
Bowles’ lawsuit claims the association should have known about the dangers of giving LeCroy a vehicle after his national championship win.
“The UGA Athletic Association would have reasonably concluded that LeCroy regularly drove at extreme speeds when law enforcement was not present,” the lawsuit states. “While LeCroy may have been legally intoxicated, the immediate cause of the accident was street racing and extreme speed. The Association’s negligent delivery of the large rental SUV to LeCroy, knowing that she was a reckless and habitual speeder, is consistent with LeCroy’s primary negligence: traveling at 104.2 mph.
The Georgia Athletic Association has responded to the lawsuit in a statement.
“We are continuing to review the complaint, as the plaintiff’s attorney chose to share it with the media before sharing it with us. Based on our preliminary review, we dispute his claims and will vigorously defend the interests of the Athletic Association in court.”
Bowles’ lawyer, Rob Buck, issued a statement to DailyMail.com.
“We hope that everyone will review the allegations detailed in the complaint to understand precisely what really happened that night,” Buck said. ‘Tory is deeply saddened by the loss of Devin and Chandler. She greatly appreciates the continued prayers, love and support she is receiving during her difficult recovery.
‘He would like to express his gratitude to his entire medical team, as well as Ron Courson, who has worked with Tory and her physical injuries on a daily basis. Tory is disappointed that the Association and her insurers have forced her to resort to litigation to address her life-changing injuries.’
The association is also facing a lawsuit from Willock’s father, who is seeking $40 million in damages.
Carter was pulled over by police and given a speeding warning only a few months earlier.
Police body camera video obtained by ABC News and Channel 2 Action News shows an officer pulling Carter over on Sept. 22 for driving 89 mph in a 45 mph zone.
Carter appeared to be driving the same black 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk that he was said to have been driving on Jan. 15 prior to the car crash that claimed the lives of Willock and LeCroy.
In the video, the officer tells Carter that he had already pulled over two other Georgia players, including one of his teammates, for speeding minutes earlier.
“You’ve got to slow down, buddy,” the officer says, before informing Carter that his car’s windows were tinted too dark and in violation of Georgia law. He then issues a subpoena to Carter.
‘Your rest is that you will not go to jail. Because that would make all kinds of news, right? says the officer.
“I don’t know if you need to send a text or something to your teammates, slow down,” the officer continues. ‘We wouldn’t be talking if you were going the speed limit. I couldn’t care less about the dye violation. But that was reckless. When you’re close to your teammates, just tell them to slow down. It’s so easy to slow down.
The officer proceeds to explain the citations and information separately for Carter’s traffic court date.
Finally, he once again repeats his request to slow down. ‘Slow down, okay? That’s all I ask.
