ATHENS, Georgia (AP) — Georgia has fired the football recruiter who survived a plane crash in January that killed player Devin Willock and another recruiter, less than a month after filing a lawsuit against the university’s athletic association.
The school released a statement saying that Victoria “Tori” Bowles was expelled because she refused to cooperate with an internal investigation into the incident. Her lawyers claim she was retaliated for file a lawsuitwho also names former Georgia player and Galen Carter to the first round of the NFL Draft.
The Atlanta Constitution Journal I first reported Bulls shooting.
January 15th accident, which It happened just hours after the show While celebrating Georgia’s second consecutive national championship, Willock killed 20-year-old Ford Expedition driver, 24-year-old Chandler Lecroy.
Police said LeCroy had a blood alcohol level more than double the legal limit and was racing with Carter at 104 mph When the car swerved off the roadhit two utility poles and a tree before crashing into another tree on the driver’s side, where LeCroy and Willock were both sitting.
Another Georgia player, Warren McClendon, was only slightly injured. Her suit said Bowles, who was sitting in the back seat next to Willock, suffered serious injuries including broken lower back and ribs, an injured spinal cord and lacerated kidneys and liver. She also sustained a closed head injury with nerve damage and severe eye pain.
The lawsuit, which includes LeCroy’s estate as an additional defendant, seeks at least $171,595 in general damages plus punitive damages.
The suit alleges that the Georgian Athletic Association entrusted the rental SUV to LeCroy and was aware that she had at least two of the four “excessive speeding” offenses prior to the accident.
The Athletic Association said employees are authorized to use the rental cars for employment purposes only. “Under no circumstances are authorized employees hired to use rental cars to drive at excessive speeds while intoxicated,” it said in a statement.
Bowles was on paid medical leave for two months after the accident, before the Athletic Association placed her on unpaid leave in March, according to records obtained by the Journal-Constitution.
Rob Buck, the attorney representing the Bulls in her lawsuit, said the university had engaged in a “campaign of intimidation” against his client, whose job salary was less than $12,000 a year.
“Torre, like all other perceived obligations to the football program, became expendable to UGA and, despite her loyalty and meager salary, was passed over,” he said.
The Athletic Association said in a statement Monday that while it wishes the Bulls well, it had to fire her for her lack of cooperation.
“Applicable policies require university employees to cooperate with internal investigations,” the statement, obtained by Al-Dustour newspaper, said. Over the course of several months, Ms. Bowles was asked – on numerous occasions – to speak with our investigators and provide information and, through her lawyer, repeatedly refused to cooperate.
“As a result, we had no choice but to terminate her employment.”
Carter, selected ninth overall by the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFL Draft, received a 12-month probationary period and a $1,000 fine in March. After pleading no competition On charges of reckless driving and misdemeanor racing.
McClendon was a fifth round pick by the Los Angeles Rams.
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AP College Football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football And https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll
