Police issue arrest warrant for NFL draft prospect Jalen Carter in connection to fatal crash

The Athens-Clarke County Police Department has issued an arrest warrant for top NFL draft prospect Jalen Carter in connection with its investigation into the fatal crash in January that left a Georgia football player and recruiting staffer dead.

Police said in a news release Wednesday that they are seeking to arrest Carter for reckless driving and racing as part of their investigation into the fatal crash on Jan. 15, 2023. Carter and recruiting staffer Chandler LeCroy were “operating their vehicles in a manner consistent with racing” prior to the crash, police said.

LeCroy and Devin Willock, a third-year offensive lineman who was riding in her vehicle, died in the crash.

Carter’s agent did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

The crash occurred at around 2:45 a.m. local time south of Athens, Georgia, where the University of Georgia is located. Police said vehicles driven by LeCroy and Carter were switching between lanes, driving in opposite lanes and driving “at high rates of speed.”

The 2021 Ford Expedition that LeCroy was driving touched 104 miles per hour shortly before the crash, police said, and her blood alcohol concentration was .197. The legal limit in Georgia is .08.

“Investigators determined that alcohol impairment, racing, reckless driving, and speed were significant contributing factors to the crash,” police said in a news release.

Carter, 21, has been considered a potential top-five pick in next month’s draft. According to an ESPN report, he was planning to participate in interviews at the NFL scouting combine this week but not work out for teams.

Contact Tom Schad at tschad@usatoday.com or on Twitter @Tom_Schad.