ATHENS, GEORGIA: The father of Georgia Bulldogs lineman Devin Willock, who lost his life in a car crash, has filed a lawsuit in Gwinnett County, Georgia, against multiple parties. The defendants in the suit include the University of Georgia Athletic Association, former Georgia defensive lineman Jalen Carter, the estate of Chandler LeCroy, and an Athens strip club.
Devin's father, Dave Willock has already notified the university last month through his attorneys that he planned to seek $2 million in damages for his son's unjust death.
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The Georgia Athletic Association responds
"The attorneys who filed the Complaint have refused to provide any factual basis for their claims against the Athletic Association, and we believe the evidence will prove them to be without merit", the Georgia Athletic Association responded to the suit, according to Daily Mail. "We intend to strongly dispute these baseless allegations in Court."
How did Devin Willock die?
Just a few hours after Georgia celebrated its second straight football national title, Willock, along with LeCroy, a Georgia football staffer, was killed on early January 15. The tragic outcome resulted as LeCroy raced Carter's SUV after leaving Toppers International Showbar in Athens. LeCroy's SUV was traveling around 104 mph when it left the road. The SUV struck a Georgia Power pole and another utility pole, slicing them in half, before striking a tree on the rear passenger quarter panel. The severe impact sent the vehicle spinning in a clockwise direction prior to getting slammed into another tree on the driver’s side where both LeCroy and Willock were sitting. LeCroy's blood alcohol level was .197 which is almost two-and-a-half times more than the state's legal limit.
Former Georgia player Warren McClendon and another staffer, Tory Bowles were also hurt but luckily, both survived.
The school was aware of LeCroy's driving history
School officials were aware of LeCroy's driving history, attorneys for Willock's father claimed. Lecroy was reportedly slapped with four speeding tickets within the last six years. Carter, who was picked by the Philadelphia Eagles in April's NFL Draft, handed himself over to the authorities for street racing and was sentenced to 12 months probation, a $1,000 fine, and 50 hours of community service.
He pled no contest to misdemeanor charges of reckless driving and racing. Carter is required to complete a state-approved defensive driving course.