Family of UGA player Devin Willock files $2M lawsuit over deadly crash

Devin Willock #77 of the Georgia Bulldogs looks on with his helmet off prior to the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game between Oregon and Georgia at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on September 03, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paul Abell/Getty Images)

ATHENS, Ga. - The family and estate of University of Georgia football player Devin Willock, who was killed in a crash in January 2023, has filed a lawsuit against the Board of Regents for the University System of Georgia.

The lawsuit comes nearly two years after the 20-year-old Willock's death in an SUV driven by a recruiting specialist following a national championship celebration in Athens.

The backstory:

In January 2023, a crash claimed the life of University of Georgia football player Devin Willock. The 20-year-old was a passenger in a Ford Expedition driven by UGA recruiting analyst Chandler LeCroy. The accident occurred along Barnett Shoals Road at approximately 2:45 a.m., following a day of celebrations for the football team’s national championship victory. Both Willock and LeCroy were pronounced dead at the scene.

Video shows SUV speeding through Athens minutes before deadly UGA crash

The Athens-Clarke County Police Department released this video which investigators say shows University of Georgia football recruiting analyst Chandler LeCroy speeding through Downtown Athens minutes before a deadly crash that claimed her life and the life of Devin Willock.

What we know:

The lawsuit, filed nearly two years to the day after the incident, targets the Board of Regents for the University System of Georgia. It seeks a jury trial and at least $2 million in damages, to be divided equally between Willock’s parents and his estate. The legal action claims that LeCroy, 24, had been served alcohol while on duty at UGA Athletics Association events, where she was responsible for transporting recruits and players around Athens. Her blood alcohol content was recorded at .197, more than three times the legal limit.

Chandler LeCroy

What they're saying:

UGA officials have attributed the crash to LeCroy, stating that she was not authorized to use a university-leased SUV after her recruiting duties concluded. However, Willock’s family’s lawyers contest this, arguing that LeCroy was instructed to keep the vehicle for the entire weekend to remain "on call" for coaches, recruits, and players. "This tragedy could have been avoided if proper protocols had been followed," the family’s attorney asserted.

New 911 calls, dispatches of deadly UGA crash released

Newly released 911 calls and dispatch recordings are painting a pictures of the frantic moments after a horrible crash that claimed the life of a University of Georgia football player and a team recruit specialist just hours after celebrating the team's back-to-back national championships.

The other side:

The lawsuit also alleges that LeCroy, Willock, and other Georgia players were joined by prospective recruits at a strip club in Athens on the night of the crash, an activity that would breach NCAA rules. Video evidence reportedly shows LeCroy and former Bulldogs star Jalen Carter racing through downtown Athens heading to a Waffle House shortly before the crash.

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By the numbers:

Earlier this year, the University of Georgia Athletic Association reached a $1.5 million settlement with Victoria "Tori" Bowles, a backseat passenger in the same vehicle who sustained severe injuries. This settlement was separate from the lawsuit filed by Willock’s estate.