Clarke County

Law firm representing family of UGA player killed in crash abruptly cancels plans for legal action

ATHENS, Ga. — Lawyers for the family of Devin Willock announced Thursday that they are not pursuing legal action after his death in a car crash last weekend, despite an earlier announcement that they planned to.

Channel 2′s Tom Regan was in Athens, where attorneys with Go Big Injury Law appeared to abruptly cancel what they said were plans to hold a news conference “discussing the legal actions that are being taken on behalf of the Willock family.”

Attorneys had not specified what legal actions the family was considering, but said they’d talk about civil action and give more details about the deadly crash.

Willock was a passenger in a car driven by University of Georgia staffer Chandler LeCroy when the she lost control of a rented SUV early on Sunday morning in Athens and crashed. LeCroy and Willock, who was sitting behind her, were both killed. Another Bulldogs player and staff member were injured. The wreck came just hours after the Bulldogs celebrated their second-consecutive National Championship with a parade.

On Thursday, the family’s lawyers said Willock’s parents were not able to be at the news conference, but read a short statement on their behalf and said the family needs time to process their grief. Lawyers walked away without answering any questions.

Earlier Thursday, Devin’s father, Dave Willock, told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that he was not aware of any lawsuit or press conference and that the university was “compensating us 100%.”

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In the crash report released Tuesday, investigators confirmed that the crash was partly caused by excessive speed.

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Channel 2′s Candace McCowan spoke with Devin’s parents, Sharlene and Dave Willock earlier this week, who said this is the second deadly car crash the family had to deal with. Devin’s half-brother, Jonathan, was killed in a car accident years ago.

The Willocks are still finalizing funeral plans but plan to have a service in Athens and back in New Jersey.

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