The University of Georgia and former football standout Jalen Carter are being sued by a woman who was critically injured in the January car accident that killed a former player and staff member.
Victoria S. Bowles says she was in the backseat of the car driven by Chandler LeCroy, the 24-year-old staff member driving a Ford Expedition along with passenger Devin Willock when she suffered fractured lower back and ribs, a spinal cord injury and lacerations to the kidney and liver.
Both LeCroy and Willock died; the former was driving 104 mph with a blood alcohol content of .197, more than twice the legal limit in Georgia.
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Georgia Bulldogs defensive lineman Jalen Carter (88) during the college football playoff semifinal game at the Chick-fil-a Peach Bowl between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Ohio State Buckeyes on December 31, 2022 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. (Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Bowles accuses the UGA Track and Field Association of negligently trusting LeCroy and claims that the association knew she had at least two «speeding» violations among four speeding tickets before the accident. The lawsuit accuses the athletic association, LeCroy and Carter of varying degrees of negligence.
Bowles also says he suffered a closed head injury with neurological damage and severe eye pain.
The athletic association said in a statement that while it has supported Bowles through his recovery, it disputes his lawsuit and will fight back vigorously in court. The school also said that «under no circumstances were recruiting personnel authorized to use rental cars to drive at excessive speeds while intoxicated.»
Former Georgia offensive lineman Warren McClendon was also in the crashed vehicle. He suffered minor injuries.
Jalen Carter #88 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 on January 9, 2023, in Inglewood, California. Georgia defeated TCU 65-7. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
The accident occurred just hours after the Bulldogs’ second straight national championship celebration when they beat TCU, 65-7.
Carter, despite legal troubles and poor performance in his professional day, was the ninth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles.
Jalen Carter poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected ninth overall by the Philadelphia Eagles during the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft at Union Station on April 27, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri. (David Eulitt/Getty Images)
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The new Eagle was charged with two misdemeanor reckless driving and racing, and did not disagree. He was sentenced to 12 months probation and ordered to pay a $1,000 fine.
Carter has also been ordered to complete 80 hours of community service and will have to complete a state-approved defensive driving course.
Associated Press contributed to this report.