A former Jacksonville Jaguar faces possible jail time after a deadly crash, even though his car got hit from behind.
A semi hit a car driven by Julius Williams November 19, 2015. He calls it an accident, but in March of 2017, more than 15 months after the crash, Williams was charged with vehicular homicide.
The arrest warrant said Williams was driving in an “aggressive and erratic manner” when the sedan he was driving crossed into the path of the semi, which could not avoid the crash.
Williams was driving to a Thursday night Jaguars game at EverBank Field, with friend Anthony Smith, who won Super Bowls with the Steelers and the Packers.
“By the grace of God, we survived,” Smith said. “We mourn for the loss of the other family but it was just an unfortunate incident, an unfortunate accident.”
A jury found Williams not guilty of vehicular homicide, but he still faces up to 90 days in jail after being convicted on the lesser charge of reckless driving.
“It’s disheartening but I’m very grateful that the jury was able to see that Mr. Williams was not responsible for the fatality,” said Sir Maejor Page, of the Georgia Commission on Racial and Social Justice.
Williams appeared at the Duval County courthouse Monday, where friends planned to speak on his behalf before sentencing.
That appearance got pushed back because the family of the semi driver didn’t appear in court.
Williams’ agent Bobby Morgan who organized a group of supporters to appear in court is asking for leniency.
“It really hurts,” Morgan said. “He was hit from behind.”
Smith, who works with Williams helping Atlanta kids through the group Battle of the Trenches says he’d do more good serving kids than serving time.
“We definitely can’t lose a guy like Julius,” Smith said.
Williams lives in Atlanta and is due back in court on Friday. His attorneys advised him not to answer questions on-camera.
The state attorney’s office is not commenting on this case until after sentencing.
© 2018 WTLV