Former Georgia football recruiting staffer Victoria Bowles has filed a lawsuit against the University of Georgia’s athletic department and former defensive lineman Jalen Carter. The lawsuit is related to a fatal car accident that took place on January 15, 2022, which resulted in the death of Bulldogs player Devin Willock and staffer Chandler LeCroy. Bowles, who was the only survivor of the crash, claims negligence on the part of UGA’s Athletic Association and contradicts statements made by Georgia football coach Kirby Smart and other officials in the program.
According to the lawsuit, LeCroy was not at fault for the crash, despite statements made by Smart and other officials claiming that he should not have been driving the leased car. The lawsuit also alleges that the UGA Athletic Association was negligent in allowing the use of the rental vehicle after recruiting duties were completed and that Jalen Carter was negligent in lending his car to LeCroy.
The accident occurred a few hours after Georgia won their second consecutive College Football Playoff national championship. After the accident, the athletic association released a statement stating that rented vehicles were supposed to be returned at the end of recruiting duties.
Bowles’ lawsuit contradicts the official version of events and claims that LeCroy was not driving recklessly at the time of the accident. Moreover, Bowles’ lawsuit also alleges that the UGA Athletic Association was responsible for not setting up proper procedures to ensure that rental cars were returned after recruiting duties were completed. Additionally, the lawsuit claims that Carter was negligent in lending his car to LeCroy and that he should have known LeCroy was not fit to drive the car.
The incident has raised questions about the University of Georgia’s recruiting practices and player safety. It also highlights the need for athletic departments to have proper safety policies and procedures in place to ensure that these types of accidents do not occur in the future. Overall, this incident is a tragic reminder of the importance of safety and proper procedures in the world of college athletics.