1674170736 Mother of UGA soccer player killed in crash says family

Mother of UGA soccer player killed in crash says family has ‘no plans’ to take legal action


Family of UGA footballer killed in accident share statement

Roy Willey, a representative of the victim’s family, said Willock’s parents asked for time and space to properly process their grief. Roy Willey, a representative of the victim’s family, said Willock’s parents asked for time and space to properly process their grief.

ATHENS, Ga. – Less than 24 hours after a spokesman for the law firm representing the family of a University of Georgia soccer player killed in a car accident indicated they would file a lawsuit, his mother told FOX 5 that they had no plans to take legal action .

An attorney for the family of 20-year-old UGA football offensive lineman Devin Willock released a statement Thursday afternoon outside the Athens-Clarke County Courthouse. Roy Willey IV, a representative of the victim’s family, said Willock’s parents asked for time and space to adequately process their grief. Sharlene Willock, Devin’s mother, was due to join Willey IV of the Go Big Injury Lawyers but was not present.

The lawyer said Willock’s parents could not attend Thursday’s press conference in Athens. Willock’s testimony gave no details of a pending lawsuit regarding her son’s death.

“As there are no words that can describe the sadness we experience with our loss, we have been helped by the support of everyone who has shared kind words and loving memories of Devin,” the statement reads. “We want everyone to know that Devin was more than just a football player. He was a trusted friend, a supportive and loving brother, a dedicated student, and a wonderful son.”

Mother of UGA soccer player killed in crash says family

Georgia Bulldogs offensive lineman Devin Willock (77) looks on during a college football game between the Auburn Tigers and the Georgia Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium on October 8, 2022 in Athens, GA. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Icon Sportswire via Getty I

FOX 5 spoke to a representative Wednesday, who adamantly indicated he would be filing a lawsuit related to the crash.

Willock’s image and likeness were used for an advertising campaign. Willock billboards can still be found in and around Athens.

Willock was one of four people in an SUV that crashed just before 3 a.m. Sunday, just hours after a day-long celebration of the Georgia Bulldogs’ back-to-back national championships.

According to the accident report released Tuesday, Willock was behind the driver’s seat of the black 2021 Ford Expedition when it exited the lane along Barnett Shoals Road just before Stroud Road.

The report states that Willock was not wearing his seat belt and was thrown from the SUV after the vehicle violently tore through two power poles and the rear end struck a tree. He died at the scene.

The driver, 24-year-old UGA recruiter Chandler LeCroy, was trapped in the vehicle. She was taken to the Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead. She was buried in her hometown of Toccoa on Wednesday.

A UGA football player and a recruitment specialist were killed and two others injured in a violent accident along Barnett Shoals Road in Athens in the early hours of January 15, 2023. (FOX 5)

The report said 21-year-old offensive lineman Warren McClendon, who was in the front passenger seat, and 26-year-old recruiter Tory Bowles, who was in the right-hand back seat, were both injured. They were still recovering on Wednesday evening.

While the crash report was released Tuesday, investigators say toxicology reports likely won’t be available for several months.

The report cites excessive speeding as a contributing factor to the fatal accident.