UGA football car crash dead: Police investigate crash that killed football player, staff member after championship party

CNN
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On the heels of the University of Georgia’s national championship victory, police are now investigating a fatal single-car crash early Sunday that killed football player Devin Willock and staff member Chandler LeCroy just hours after the Bulldogs celebrated with fans, authorities said.

Shortly before 3 a.m., LeCroy, 24, was driving with Willock, 20, and two other passengers near the UGA campus in Athens when the vehicle veered off the road and struck two utility poles and several trees, according to Athens-Clarke County police. The department said in a release.

Willock died at the scene and LeCroy died at the hospital, police said. LeCroy was a football recruiting analyst at UGA his LinkedIn.

According to the police, the 26-year-old female passenger was seriously injured and the 21-year-old male passenger was slightly injured. The university confirmed that the two surviving passengers are also members of the football program, but did not identify them.

However, the Athens Banner-Herald reported on Sunday that Warren McClendon, the Bulldogs’ starting offensive tackle, was a male passenger, citing the players’ father. The father told the newspaper that McClendon required stitches to his forehead but is doing well.

Earlier Saturday afternoon, Sanford Stadium and the surrounding streets were filled with ecstatic fans who had come to celebrate the Bulldogs’ second straight national championship. But by the next morning, they had joined the team in mourning the sudden loss of Willock and LeCroy.

Die-hard fan Daniel Dewitt attended Saturday’s victory parade and told CNN’s Willock he was happy and delighted as the team passed the red and black-clad supporters.

It’s just heartbreaking after a week of celebrations. And yesterday’s parade, to be able to see this player and then find out he lost his life early this morning, the entire Bulldog nation is lost,” Dewitt said.

Photos of the crash site taken by residents living nearby show a wooden electric pole broken in half and the body of the car crumpled against the apartment building.

The car hit like a tin can, apartment complex resident Cecily Pangburn told CNN. He described hearing a loud bang upon impact and then losing his power.

According to the police, the investigation of the accident is ongoing. Investigators have asked anyone with information to contact the authorities.

Two young members of the UGA team stood out several university leaders as lively and respected factors in the football program.

Devin was an outstanding young man in every way. “He was always smiling, a great teammate and a joy to coach,” head football coach Kirby Smart said in a statement Sunday.

“Chandler was a valuable member of our football staff and brought an incredible attitude and energy every single day,” Smart said.

Support for the Bulldogs also poured in Sunday from across the college football community, including head coaches. Brian Kelly from Louisiana State University and Hugh Freeze from Auburn University.

These two special people meant the world to our football program and athletic department, UGA Director of Athletics Josh Brooks said. opinion. We are working with our medical staff and mental health and performance teams to ensure that our staff and student-athletes receive all the support they need during this extremely difficult time.

Willock, a redshirt sophomore from New Milford, New Jersey, joined the team as a freshman in 2020, according to UGA. soccer list. He played on the offensive line in all 15 of the team’s games this year.

The player spent Saturday with fans enjoying last week’s championship win. But one fan in particular got some quality time with Willock in the hours before his death.

Willock met 7-year-old Camdyn Gonzales when a young fan spotted Willock leaving the Texas Roadhouse restaurant in Athens on Saturday.

The player punched Camdyn and let the boy try on a huge 2021 championship ring.

He was humble and very appreciative that we knew who he was and wanted to talk to him, Camdyn’s grandfather Sam Kramer said, adding that Willock seemed so full of life and just happy.

Dewitt, a fan who saw Willock at Saturday’s parade, told CNN he has a 2021 UGA championship tattoo and plans to get one for this season’s victory. This time he said it has Willocs number 77.