‘Slow down, dude:’ UGA star caught going 40 MPH over speed limit months before racing arrest

ATHENS, Ga. — Nearly six weeks after a crash that killed a UGA player and staffer, another UGA star is facing street racing charges from the night of their deaths.

On Wednesday night, Jalen Carter turned himself in on street racing and reckless driving charges.

Investigators told Channel 2′s Michael Seiden that it took more than a month to file charges against Carter because they wanted to make sure they were doing a complete and thorough investigation.

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They also say they had hours of surveillance footage to go through and toxicology results took a month to get back.

Police say, however, this is not the first time Carter has been cited for dangerous driving.

New body camera footage obtained by Channel 2 Action News shows an officer pulling Carter over for driving too fast just months before the crash that killed Devin Willock and Chandler LeCroy.

“Y’all need to slow down, dude,” the officer can be heard telling Carter. “Man, I’ve already stopped a bunch of your football players.”

The officer ticketed the 21-year-old Carter for going 89 in a 45 MPH zone before letting him go home.

“Your break is, you’re not going to jail. That’s your break because that’s gonna make all kinds of news, right?” the officer says.

RELATED STORIES:

• Surveillance video shows moments leading up to deadly UGA crash
• Bodycam video: Officer pleaded with UGA player to stop speeding months before deadly crash
• UGA star charged in deadly crash turns himself in, released shortly after, records show
• Could Jalen Carter face more serious charges in UGA crash? A lawyer says yes

Investigators say surveillance video shows a car driven by Carter the night of the deadly crash was the same as the car he was pulled over in last year.

After the crash, police dispatch calls captured the moments when officers realized that UGA football players were among those injured in the crash.

“I don’t know if they’re aware, but they’re UGA football players...Bryant Gant, who is on the coaching staff, is on his way out here,” the calls say.

During the investigation, police say they learned Carter left the scene of the deadly crash before later returning. Investigators say he gave false statements on where he was at the time of the crash.

Carter has issued a lengthy statement on Wednesday claiming that when all of the facts are known that he will be fully exonerated of any criminal wrongdoing.

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Bodycam video: Officer pleaded with UGA player to stop speeding months before deadly crash

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