NASCAR Driver Tony Stewart Cleared in Fatal Track Accident - East Idaho News
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NASCAR Driver Tony Stewart Cleared in Fatal Track Accident

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GETTY 92414 TonyStewart?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1411585811673Andy Lyons/Getty Images(CANANDAIGUA, N.Y.) — Nearly two months after Tony Stewart struck and killed a fellow driver, the district attorney’s office on Wednesday said a grand jury investigation determined there was insufficient evidence to indict the NASCAR star.

The grand jury’s investigation began last week and its findings were released on Wednesday by the Ontario County District Attorney’s Office in Canandaigua, New York.

In a news conference Wednesday, prosecutors said the grand jury considered manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide charges. They said several videos of the August 9 incident were enhanced and analyzed and did not show any evidence of a crime committed.

Kevin Ward Jr., 20, died after he exited his car in what looked like an attempt to confront Stewart during a sprint car event at Canandaigua Motorsports Park in upstate New York. Video of the incident shows Ward gesturing toward Stewart’s vehicle as he walked out of his own car and toward the center of the racetrack, where Stewart’s car hit him.

District Attorney Michael Tantillo said there was also evidence Ward was under the influence of marijuana on the night of the race.

In a statement released Wednesday afternoon, Stewart said the past two months have been the “toughest and most emotional experience of my life, and it will stay with me forever.”

“I respect everything the District Attorney and Sheriff’s Office did to thoroughly investigate this tragic accident. While the process was long and emotionally difficult, it allowed for all the facts of the accident to be identified and known,” he said.

“While much of the attention has been on me, it’s important to remember a young man lost his life,” he said. “Kevin Ward Jr.’s family and friends will always be in my thoughts and prayers.”

The Ward family said in a statement, “Our son got out of his car during caution, while the race was suspended. All other vehicles were reducing speed and not accelerating except for Tony Stewart, who intentionally tried to intimidate Kevin by accelerating and sliding his car towards him, causing this tragedy. The focus should be on the actions of Tony Stewart and not Kevin. The matter is not at rest and we will pursue all remedies, in fairness to Kevin.”

After the incident, Stewart, 43, took several weeks off from racing before making a return to the ORAL-B USA 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on August 31.


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