Well tonight there is sadness across Georgia,
especially within Bulldog Nation as two
people tied to the UGA football program
were killed in an overnight crash.
This morning we learned 20 year old
Devin Willock and offensive lineman and
24 year old Chandler Lacroix who served
as a member of the football staff died
while traveling overnight in Athens.
Good evening, I'm Christine Crowley.
This happened just hours after the
Bulldogs celebrated their second
straight national championship.
With thousands of their fans now
there's an outpouring of sadness
and just complete shock.
We have team coverage on this
developing story coming up.
Reggie Chapman provides perspective
on this tragedy to you, GA but first,
let's go live to Athens where 11 alives.
Dawn White joins us now with
the very latest on this story.
Don.
Feel the grief and the air here at U
GA fans were celebrating the national
championship title went here at Sanford
Stadium yesterday and today the campus
is grieving the loss of two people.
Let's take a look at some
video that we shot earlier.
This crash killed 20 year old
offensive lineman Devin Willick
along with Chandler Decroix.
She worked for the football team as well.
Athens Clark County police say Lacroix
drove the vehicle just before 3:00 AM.
Today along the Barnett Shoals Rd.
in Athens, investigators
believe the SUV left the road,
hitting two power poles and several trees.
Offensive lineman Warren McClendon
was also in the car and he has
been released from the hospital.
A fourth person, Tori Bowles,
who's a member of the football team,
is in the hospital in serious condition.
I spoke to a woman who says
she heard the crash happen.
I just hear the Spang,
the power goes out and then it comes back on.
But I was curious so I got
out of bed and came out here.
I can't even tell what happened
cause they hit the power line,
they hit a light pole and then they
hit the tree and then they hit the
building like I I don't even and
then they end up behind the car.
I can't even say how they would
have gotten into that position.
And you can see this memorial
of flowers here is starting to
build outside of Stanford Stadium.
We will talk to students and fans
here on campus and have the reaction
for you tonight after the game.
And Don, we've been hearing
those reactions all day.
In a statement, head coach Kirby
Smart said Willick was always smiling
and Lacroix brought an incredible
attitude and energy every single day.
Governor Brian Kemp sending
out the following tweet.
Our hearts break for the young lives
lost last night and their families.
We are lifting up their loved ones,
friends and teammates in prayer this
morning and former players speaking out,
including Jordan Davis,
who is now in the NFL.
He tweets quote,
there is no grief without love.
And we love both of you like family.
You could read more reaction
over on 11 alive.com.
And as we said,
it was just yesterday the Bulldogs
were celebrating their second
straight national championship.
Of course,
Devin Willock was part of that celebration,
riding atop a fire engine you see right
there through the streets of Athens.
Unbelievable.
That was just more than 24 hours ago.
You could see him there on top,
on the far left of this group right there.
He even took to Instagram to
share the experience he had with
his fellow Georgia teammates.
Including a selfie with
fellow lineman Tate Ratledge.
Look even made sure to get shots of the
large crowd which lined those streets.
And many of those Bulldog fans saw
him Saturday afternoon just smiling
and enjoying that celebration,
soaking it all in,
so hard to believe so much would
change overnight 11 alive sports
anchor Reggie Chapman joins us now
with more on this tragic story.
Reggie, I mean,
it's clear Devin meant a lot to
this team and to the GA community.
Yeah, Kristen, this support has been.
Pouring across social media all day long,
not just former and current players,
but much of the football community,
including the Falcons,
Georgia Tech and the University of
Nebraska and other teams around the
SEC and the country on the field,
Devin was most used in a reserve
role on Georgia's offensive line,
but he had carved out a spot in
the rotation like others who had
come through the Georgia program.
Well, it was someone who worked
hard and waited his turn.
He registered his freshman year
running with the scout team before
playing in 12 or more games in
each of the last two seasons,
including multiple stars.
Some of the biggest games of the
year during Georgia's 2023 run
to back-to-back national titles,
earning more and more playing
time the last two seasons.
And Reggie, you get a chance to be
around these players all the time.
You get to see them in and out.
So what were they like off the field?
What, what kind of person was he?
Well, he was a great person and we didn't
get many opportunities to talk with Devin,
but when we did it was clear he
was someone that was a kind soul
and cares so much about others.
Just yesterday after the parade Georgia
fans Sam Kramer tweeted out these pictures
of Devin and thanking him for the taking
his time to talk to his grandson.
Also saying that Devin went out of his way
to make them and make him feel special
and that it made his day all the way.
He also let the young boy wear his
championship ring these photos.
A great representation of the
person Devin truly was.
According to uginsiders@uasports.com,
Phil offense lineman Warren McClendon was
also in that fatal car accident and was
released from the hospital earlier today.
He took to Twitter and simply tweeted
both a broken heart and a dove emoji.
Such a tragic day for the bulldog
community of more on Devon,
little bit later in the show in sports.
Yeah, nothing anybody could have ever
expected after such a celebration.
Yesterday just just got
wrenching and a terrible day.
So Reggie, thank you for that.
And the story continues to develop.
For the very latest,
you can head over to 11 alive.com.