Jalen Carter, potential No. 1 NFL draft pick, implicated in fatal crash involving Georgia football members

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An arrest warrant has been issued for Jalen Carter, a projected top pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, stemming from the Jan. 15 car crash that killed a University of Georgia football player and a recruiting staff member. 

The deadly crash occurred shortly after the Bulldogs' championship parade, which celebrated their second consecutive College Football Playoff championship, in Athens, Georgia.

Georgia Bulldogs offensive linemen Devin Willock walks off after the game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Georgia, on Oct. 2, 2021. (Jeffrey Vest/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Georgia offensive lineman Devin Willock and 24-year-old Chandler LeCroy, who worked in the recruiting department, were killed. 

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"As a result of the ongoing investigation into the January 15, 2023, fatal car crash that occurred in the 900 block of Barnett Shoals Road, the Athens-Clarke County Police Department has secured arrest warrants for Jalen Carter, 21, for reckless driving and racing," Lt. Shaun Barnett said Wednesday in a statement. 

Georgia Bulldogs defensive lineman Jalen Carter competes against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Chick-fil-a Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Dec. 31, 2022. (Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

"The investigation found that Chandler LeCroy, driver of the 2021 Ford Expedition, and Jalen Carter, driver of the 2021 Jeep Trackhawk, were operating their vehicles in a manner consistent with racing shortly after leaving the downtown Athens area around 2:30 AM. The evidence demonstrated 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 apparent attempt to outdistance each other. 

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"Evidence indicated that shortly before the crash the Expedition was traveling at about 104 miles per hour. The toxicology report indicated LeCroy’s blood alcohol concentration was .197 at the time of the crash. Investigators determined that alcohol impairment, racing, reckless driving, and speed were significant contributing factors to the crash." 

Jalen Carter of the Georgia Bulldogs celebrates with a newspaper reading "Perfect!" after defeating the TCU Horned Frogs in the College Football Playoff National Championship game at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, on Jan. 9, 2023. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

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Both charges are misdemeanors, according to The Athletic. 

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart released a statement shortly after the news, saying the program will continue to cooperate with authorities. 

"The charges announced today are deeply concerning, especially as we are still struggling to cope with the devastating loss of two beloved members of our community," Smart said. 

"We will continue to cooperate fully with the authorities while supporting these families and assessing what we can learn from this horrible tragedy."

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Later on Wednesday, Carter posted a statement to Twitter saying he is returning to Athens in order to "answer the misdemeanor charges against me and to make certain that the complete and accurate truth is presented." 

"There is no question in my mind that when all of the facts are known that I will be fully exonerated of any criminal wrongdoing," Carter wrote. 

Carter, who is ESPN’s No. 1 overall prospect in this year’s draft, was scheduled to speak with reporters on Wednesday at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis.