Jalen Carter is not pleading fatal accident charges

Stephen’s testimony said Carter “never left the scene” of the Jan. 15 crash that killed teammate Devin Willock and recruiting analyst Chandler LeCroy the night after the Bulldogs celebrated their second straight national championship.

“He stopped his car after the accident occurred and ran toward the wrecked vehicle while his passenger called 911,” Stephens said. “Even after being told he could go, at the request of the Athens-Clarke County Police Department, Mr. Carter returned to the scene to answer additional questions and continued to cooperate with the investigation.”

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Stephens added that Carter “did not cause the tragic accident. … Had the investigation found otherwise, he would have been charged with the far more serious felonies of vehicle homicide and aggravated assault.” According to the attorney, Carter was not under the influence of alcohol or any illegal substance at the time of the crash.

Investigators found that Carter’s Jeep Cherokee Trackhawk was damaged by falling cables caused by an expedition’s crash, which went off the road at extremely high speed at about 2:45 a.m. and struck two utility poles, trees and an apartment building.

Devin Willock, a third-year offensive lineman, was ejected from the vehicle and died at the scene. It was determined that LeCroy was intoxicated at the time of the crash. A GBI toxicology study found her blood alcohol content was 0.197, or more than double the legal limit of 0.08. The university said it was not authorized to drive the vehicle, which was rented by the sports club solely for recruitment purposes. LeCroy was pronounced dead at a hospital.

Tory Bowles, another member of the recruiting staff, is expected to recover from severe fractures of his spine and ribs sustained in the accident. Warren McClendon, a junior offensive lineman who was in the passenger seat, was treated for minor injuries and discharged.

On the eve of his practice in the NFL combine in February, a warrant was issued for Carter, who was considered a possible No. 1 draft pick, and his draft inventory has since fallen. He had a disappointing performance at Georgia’s Pro Day in Athens on Wednesday when he was nine pounds heavier than his combine weight. Due to poor physical condition, he could not complete his exercises.