ATHENS, Ga. — The top overall draft prospect Jalen Carter, who has been connected to the Bears, posted bail after being issued a warrant in connection to a deadly crash in January.
Carter is facing charges of reckless driving and racing. Both charges are misdemeanors and he was released from jail late Wednesday night after posting part of a $4,000 bond.
On Jan. 15, his teammate Devin Willock and a Georgia recruiting staff member, Chandler LeCroy, were killed in a crash that was initially reported as a single-vehicle accident.
On Wednesday morning, the Athens-Clarke County Police Department announced that evidence demonstrated that LeCroy and Carter were operating vehicles “in a matter consistent with racing” shortly after leaving downtown Athens.
“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,” police said in the statement.
Shortly before the crash, LeCroy was traveling at around 104 miles per hour and a toxicology report indicated that his blood alcohol content level was .197.
Carter, a dominate run-stopping defensive tackle, has been widely linked to the Chicago Bears, who hold the top pick in the upcoming NFL Draft.
The NFL reported that Carter was scheduled to address the media Wednesday at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, but did not appear.
On Wednesday afternoon, Carter released the following statement on Twitter.
“This morning I received a telephone call from from the Athens Georgia Police Department informing me that two misdemeanor warrants have been issued against me for reckless driving and racing. Numerous media reports also have circulated this morning containing inaccurate information concerning the tragic events of January 15th, 2023. It is my intention to return to Athens 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 the facts are known, that I will be fully exonerated of criminal wrongdoing.”
