In the University of Georgia’s most detailed commentary on the car crash that killed football player Devin Willock and a recruiter, athletic director Josh Brooks said Tuesday that the two were not at the time of the incident, which happened after the Bulldogs worked in the sports department celebrated their second national title in a row.
The wreck also left offensive lineman Warren McClendon with minor injuries and seriously injured another member of the recruiting staff.
The incident, which took place near the school’s campus in Athens in the early hours of January 15, has raised questions about the relationship between athletes and those who work in the sports department.
“Up to this point, out of respect for the families involved, we have refrained from public comment on the circumstances of the tragic accident that claimed two lives and injured two members of our campus community,” Brooks said in a statement.
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“However, we want the public to know that the Athletic Department, in coordination with appropriate legal counsel, is conducting a thorough review to fully understand the circumstances surrounding this tragic event. We would like to emphasize that these individuals were not involved in athletic department duties at the time of this incident.”
An SUV driven by Chandler LeCroy, who worked in human resources, went off the road on a curve, punched through two utility poles, struck two trees and finally came to a stop by an apartment building.
Willock was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene. He was 20. LeCroy died a short time later after being rushed to a nearby hospital. she was 24
McClendon, who had announced hours earlier that he would be entering the NFL draft, suffered a laceration in the center of his head. The other university employee, Victoria Bowles, survived with serious injuries.
The crash came after a parade through Athens and a celebration at Sanford Stadium in honor of TCU’s Georgia 65-7 loss in the national championship game on Jan. 9.
The police report listed the owner of the 2021 Ford Explorer as EAN Holdings, which is the official name for the rental car company, which operates as Enterprise.
It was not clear who rented the vehicle, although it is similar to those used by the university for recruitment visits.
Excessive speed on a 40 mph speed limit road was listed as the cause of the crash, along with other unspecified factors. The police said they were still investigating.
Brooks said the university is working with police and will also review its policies to see if changes should be made after the incident. He said football coach Kirby Smart was part of those discussions.
“Our review is preliminary at this time and the Athletic Department is cooperating fully with law enforcement officials to establish all facts related to this tragedy,” Brooks said. “Coach Smart and I also actively review relevant football policies and upon completion of this review we will take steps to implement any necessary improvements in our policies and procedures.”