ATHENS, GA — The Victoria Bulls, survivors of the deadly car wreck that killed a University of Georgia football player and staff member on Jan. 15, have filed a lawsuit against UGA Athletic Association and Philadelphia Eagles rookie Jalen Carter, who was accused by police of racing an SUV that Driven by a recruiter when it crashed.
The lawsuit, filed in state court in Gwinnett County, Georgia, on Wednesday by Bulls, a former recruiting analyst for the university, accuses the UGA Athletic Association of negligence and contradicts public statements by Bulldogs football coach Kirby Smart and other officials, who have claimed recruiting officer Chandler Lecroy He should not be driving the rental SUV when it has left the road and hit trees and power poles.
The incident occurred hours after Georgia celebrated its second consecutive national championship with a parade on campus. After the wreck, the Athletic Association issued a statement, saying in part that “hire vehicles will be turned over upon immediate completion of recruiting duties.”
On the evening of the tournament celebration, Lecroy told Mrs. Bowles that she [LeCroy] “He had ‘permission’ to keep the SUV” until tomorrow, the suit said. Numerous text messages from employee supervisors to LeCroy, Ms. Bowles and other employees show that the association’s statement was false. Recruiters have been regularly informed that they may leave their personal vehicles overnight at the Butts-Mehre football facility and use leased association vehicles permitted by a specified date and time, unrelated to their assigned recruiting activity duties.”
The suit also alleges that the sports association was negligent in allowing LeCroy to drive the SUV during its duties. Attorneys for the Bowles maintained that athletics officials were aware that “LeCroy had at least four speeding violations, which included two ‘excessive speeding’ violations under Georgia law.” The suit alleges that LeCroy’s supervisor was in the car when she received her latest ticket on Oct. 30 while driving home from the Georgia-Florida game in Jacksonville, Florida.
The suit said LeCroy’s SUV was traveling at least 104.2 mph when it crashed and was racing another SUV driven by Carter for 45 seconds or less. Police said LeCroy’s blood alcohol concentration was .197, nearly twice the legal limit in Georgia.
“The UGA Athletic Association would have reasonably concluded that LeCroy regularly drove at extreme speeds when law enforcement was not present,” the suit said. Although LeCroy may have been legally intoxicated, the proximate cause of the accident was street racing and extreme speed. The association’s negligence entrusting the large rental SUV to LeCroy, knowing that it was reckless and accustomed to speed, is consistent with LeCroy’s primary negligence – Travel 104.2 miles per hour.”
“We are reviewing the complaint, but we dispute her allegations and will defend the IAAF’s interests in court,” the Georgian Athletics Federation said in a statement on Thursday.
The suit accuses Carter of illegally leaving the scene without speaking to law enforcement and failing to provide assistance.
Though LeCroy’s passenger, [former Georgia offensive lineman Warren McClendon]telling him he could not locate Devin Willock, defendant Carter left the scene less than 10 minutes later when another UGA football player at the scene yelled at him: “Yo…hey, JC…you probably want to go,” the suit alleged.
As Defendant Carter was aware at the time, he was jointly responsible for the incident, and had a legal duty to remain at the scene. Instead, he feared in part the bad publicity and effect on NFL draft status, he did not hope to be question him or take any responsibility for his actions.”
Carter pleaded guilty to a March 16 misdemeanor charge of reckless driving and racing. He was sentenced to 12 months probation, a $1,000 fine and 80 hours of community service and will attend a state-approved defensive driving course.
Carter was selected with the ninth pick by the Eagles in this year’s NFL Draft.
The Bowles’ lawsuit also seeks damages from the Lecroy estate. According to Bowles’ attorney, she incurred more than $170,000 in medical expenses and suffered a “potential permanent disability.” Among her injuries included in the lawsuit were three fractures in the lower back, five fractured vertebrae, 10 broken ribs, a broken collarbone, broken and cracked teeth, kidney and liver lacerations, a perforated and collapsed lung, and abdominal bleeding.
The lawsuit said that Bowles also suffered a closed head injury, which caused nerve damage and severe eye pain, and according to the neurosurgeon, the membrane surrounding the nerves of the spinal cord had significant damage, which could develop into permanent paralysis.
“We hope everyone will go through the allegations detailed in the complaint to understand precisely what really happened that night,” LeCroy’s attorney, Rob Buck, said in a statement to ESPN. “Tori is deeply saddened by the loss of Devin and Chandler. She deeply appreciates the continued prayer, love and support she has received during her difficult recovery.
“She would like to express her gratitude to her entire medical team, as well as Ron Corson, who has worked with Tori and her physical injuries on a daily basis. Tori is disappointed that the association and its insurance companies have forced her to turn to litigation to treat her life-altering injuries.”
This is the second lawsuit filed against the UGA Athletic Association related to the wreck. In May, Willock’s father sued Carter and other accusers on the Athletic Association. Willock’s father is seeking $40 million in damages.