Back in January, Georgia offensive tackle Devin Willock and recruiting staffer Chandler LeCroy passed away in a car accident while allegedly street racing in Athens.
The Athens-Clarke County police noted that LeCroy was driving up to 104 mph when the vehicle crashed, and had a blood alcohol concentration of .197, which is well above the legal limit.
The other driver involved was reportedly star defensive lineman Jalen Carter, who is possibly a number one overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft, and was issued a warrant for his arrest for charges of reckless driving and street racing.
However, Carter was given one-year probation, and had to pay a $1,000 fine, along with completing 80 hours of community service. He also has to take part in a defensive driving course.
But speaking of Willock, we now know that his father, Dave Willock, is suing the University of Georgia for $2 million in damages for his son’s death.
According to the New York Post, lawyers representing Willock sent a legal notice to the Georgia Board of Regents earlier this month, noting that they would be seeking damages for the wrongful death of Devin.
$2 million is the max that state agencies can be sued for in the state of Georgia.
Willock’s attorneys are saying that the university was aware LeCroy had a not so great driving history, with four speeding tickets in six years, but still allowed her to be driving players around.
The legal notice reads:
“UGA and (University of Georgia Athletic Association) agents and employees negligently entrusted a vehicle to LeCroy. Likewise, UGA and UGAAA agents and employees negligently hired, supervised, trained, and retained LeCroy.”
Dave Willock’s attorneys also added that LeCroy was supposed to be on call to drive players around all weekend with a vehicle the school lent to her, although Kirby Smart said that it was not her job to get players around that night.
The attorneys also added that LeCroy supplied alcohol for players during the championship celebrations, which UGA spokesman Greg Trevor denied in a statement.
Trevor’s statement says:
“While we continue to grieve for the Willock family, the demand letter from an attorney for Devin’s father is full of inaccuracies.
[Willock’s attorney] has not provided the university with any sources or evidentiary bases to support these reckless claims. As we have made clear, personal use of vehicles rented for recruiting activities was strictly prohibited.
Ms. LeCroy was not engaged in athletic department duties around the time of the accident, and her personal use of the car after her recruiting duties ended earlier that evening was therefore unauthorized.”
During the annual Spring Game a week or so ago, the Georgia offense took a delay of game in honor of their late teammates:
