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The Georgia department of athletics has launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fatal car crash that claimed the lives of football player Devin Willock and recruiting coordinator Chandler LeCroy, AD Josh Brooks announced Tuesday.
Department officials stressed that the January 15 accident occurred on personal time and was not related to department business.
Tragedy has marred the Bulldogs’ second straight national title, which the school won earlier this month with a win over TCU. the fatal shipwreck it also left offensive lineman Warren McClendon with minor injuries and seriously injured another recruiting staff member.
Lingering questions remain about the relationship between the athletes and department staff following the incident, which occurred in the early morning hours of January 15 near the school’s Athens campus.
The Athens-Clarke County Police Department said 20-year-old Devin Willock was killed in a car crash on Barnett Shoals Road around 2:45 a.m. Jan. 15. The driver, Chandler LeCroy, 24, who worked for the team as a staff member, was taken to hospital where she too died of her injuries.
The University of Georgia athletic department has launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fatal car crash that claimed the lives of football player Devin Willock and recruiting coordinator Chandler LeCroy (pictured), the AD said Tuesday. Josh Brooks.
“Out of respect for the families involved, we have refrained from public comment until this time on the circumstances of the tragic accident that claimed two lives and injured two members of our campus community,” Brooks said in a statement.
“However, we want the public to know that the athletic department is conducting a thorough review, in coordination with the appropriate legal counsel, to fully understand the circumstances surrounding this tragic event. We want to emphasize that these individuals were not involved in athletic department duties at the time of this incident.’
An SUV driven by 24-year-old Chandler LeCroy, who worked in the contracting department, veered off the road on a curve, clipping a couple of utility poles, hitting two trees and finally coming to rest against an apartment building.
Willock, 20, was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene. LeCroy died a short time after being taken to a nearby hospital.
McClendon, who had announced hours earlier that he would enter the NFL draft, received a laceration to the middle of his head. The other college employee, Victoria Bowles, survived with serious injuries.
Earlier this month, Willock and Georgia defeated TCU 65-7 for the school’s second straight title.
LeCroy was driving the vehicle, it lost control and struck utility poles and cars, police say.
The accident occurred after a parade through Athens and a celebration at Sanford Stadium to honor Georgia’s 65-7 victory over TCU in the national championship game.
The police report listed EAN Holding as the owner of the 2021 Ford Explorer, which is the official name of the car rental company that does business as Enterprise.
It was not clear who had rented the vehicle, although it is similar to ones the university uses to recruit visitors.
Excessive speed on a highway with a 40 mph limit was listed as a cause of the accident, along with other unspecified factors. Police said they were still investigating.
Willock and some of his teammates were photographed leaving an Athens strip club minutes before the fatal crash.
Athens-Clarke County police footage showed Willock and McLendon leaving Toppers International Showbar around 2:30 a.m., according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Also pictured with them were, “two women who closely resemble the UGA employees involved in the fatal accident,” the newspaper reported.
The photo was taken just hours after the Bulldogs finished a victory parade.
This photo provided by police shows Georgia staff and football players leaving a strip club.
Brooks said the university was cooperating with police and would also review its policies to determine if any changes should be made in the wake of the incident. He said that football coach Kirby Smart was part of those discussions.
“Our review is preliminary at this time, and the athletic department is fully cooperating with law enforcement officials to determine all of the facts surrounding this tragedy,” Brooks said. “Coach Smart and I are also actively reviewing the relevant soccer policies, and upon completion of that review, we will take steps to implement any improvements to our policies and procedures that may be necessary.”
As for McClendon, the offensive lineman will wear Willock’s number in the Senior Bowl.
McClendon, who gave up his college eligibility to enter the NFL draft, accepted an invite this week to play in the Feb. 4 all-star game in Mobile, Alabama.
Bowl Senior Executive Director Jim Nagy wrote on Twitter that McClendon will wear No. 77 in honor of Willock after wearing No. 70 during his three years as a starter at Georgia.