The fatal mid-January car accident involving then-college star Jalen Carter continues to be a major issue. Now, a survivor is suing the Philadelphia Eagles’ NFL rookie as well as the University of Georgia’s governing body

NFL rookie Jalen Carter is facing his next legal action after the fatal car crash in mid-January.

Victoria Bowles, a survivor of the accident at the time, has filed a lawsuit against both Carter and the UGA Athletic Association, the University of Georgia’s athletic governing body.

On 15 January, just hours after the Georgia Bulldogs’ college championship, Carter and teammate Chandler LeCroy had engaged in an illegal street race in Athens. LeCroy lost control of her car and crashed at a speed of 170 km/h, hitting power boxes and trees, among other things.

LeCroy and Carter’s teammate Devin Willock, who was in the car, died, Bowles survived with serious injuries. LeCroy was posthumously found to have a blood alcohol level of just under two per mille.

Bowles blames the university for the accident because it had already been apparent beforehand that LeCroy was not fit to drive. The plaintiff’s lawyers claim that sports officials knew that “LeCroy had at least four speeding tickets, including two violations of Georgia law. “

Carter sued for failure to assist

Netheless, LeCroy – among others – was given access to a rental car for work-related purposes. The university stated that the driver in the accident should not have been driving the car at all at the time of the crash. However, statements from the accident victim and text messages are said to prove otherwise.

Carter, in turn, is accused in the lawsuit of leaving the scene of the accident too early and not rendering assistance. “As defendant Carter knew at the time, he was partially responsible for the accident and had a legal duty to remain at the scene. Instead, in part apparently out of fear of bad publicity and the impact on his NFL draft status, he hoped not to be questioned or take responsibility for his actions,” it says.

Criminally, the case is already closed for Carter. The 22-year-old pleaded guilty to reckless driving and speeding and was sentenced to 12 months probation, a $1,000 fine and 80 hours of community service. He will also undergo driver safety training.

Under civil law, however, the case is not yet over for the defensive end. The father of Devin Willock, who was also killed in the accident, sued him for up to 40 million euros in damages. In the NFL Draft, Carter had fallen to the ninth position before the Philadelphia Eagles picked him.