Nov 13, 2021; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Georgia Bulldogs helmet sits on the sideline in a game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Georgia Bulldogs at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports
The University of Georgia community continues to mourn the loss of Devin Willock and Chandler LeCroy from a fatal car wreck earlier in the month.
As the community mourns those losses, Georgia released an initial statement on the incident Tuesday evening. Georgia AD Josh Brooks announced in that statement the university would be conducting its own investigation into the matter.
As of Friday night, Georgia Athletics put out a second statement updating the course of the investigation. While the university acknowledged the review is still ongoing, some clarity has been provided on certain matters.
The statement goes on to acknowledge that the vehicle involved in the accident was reserved for use in recruiting activities only and that continued use of the vehicle beyond those recruiting activities was unauthorized:
“The car driven in the accident was one of several vehicles leased by our athletic department for use during recruiting activities only,” the statement reads. “Policies and expectations that were well understood by athletics staff dictated that such rental vehicles were to be turned in at the immediate conclusion of recruiting duties. Personal use was strictly prohibited. Therefore, the continued use of the leased car by our staff members after their recruiting duties ended earlier that evening was unauthorized.”
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and The wonderful world of pass the blame lawyer speak continues...
What exactly did you expect them to say? Did you expect them to take responsibility for something they didn't do and had no control over?
Obviously, she had access to their car. They had control over that.
Without naming either a Division 1 or 2 institution, I’ll tell you they don’t keep permission to drive lists visible, and I never saw a good sign out and in system. But I also never saw keys handed to irresponsible people. Head Coaches or A.D.s usually have a plan for who will drive where and again I never saw irresponsible drivers sent. In this case clearly an irresponsible person was driving and the most likely reason was she didn’t have permission to. I said “most likely”. So when the University asserts that the vehicle was being used by a person without permission, there’s a far better than 50/50 chance this is the case.
What are you wanting them to say?
I drive a company work vehicle. It was made clear to me that its use was strictly for company business and as such I am never to use it for personal reasons.
The statement from the school on this is significant and fair.
Yet, if you used the company vehicle in violation of their rules and someone gets killed, don't be surprised when the billboard lawyers sue your company anyway. That's what's happening.
She was obviously into making poor life choices....
You obviously don't have a life to make poor choices with. Do better loser
Posturing. But it won’t matter. Company car driven by employee makes company liable. Moreover a further investigation will likely show this as common practice. They have to try to get out in front in some kind of less liable way but in the end the school will pay through the nose and all those other company car keys will be confiscated and locked up…
That's the policy I would expect to be in place for use of such vehicles. Unfortunately for the University, I expect a jury will hammer the school (hopefully their insurance carrier) and find them liable for the actions of their employee. It sucks, but it's what the judicial system has taught me. Discovery will likely explore the use of every vehicle the University has and has had, and will explore how they were monitored and used.
Tragic results typically dictate how such cases are ultimately resolved - rather than the contracts or agreements that were in place. I'm sorry about the unfortunate loss of young people's lives. Horrible.
When you hand the keys to a company owned piece of machinery (vehicle) you expose yourselves to legality's. I expect there to be an out of court (large) settlement, and the university will change policies. None of this will bring back the young lives lost.
Most employees that have "company" vehicles feel entitled to use them as personal ones. I don't know anyone, in this situation, that does not. The athletic department lawyers are just trying to minimize the damage. This will change athletic department policy and two young people have paid dearly for it!