This news is just in. TMZ Sports has just run the following. NASCAR Star Tony Stewart will not race criminal charges.
Source: TMZ Sports
NASCAR star Tony Stewart will NOT face criminal charges in the death of Kevin Ward Jr. … who was struck and killed by Stewart during a race last month … TMZ Sports has learned.
We’ve learned … that a grand jury just decided not to charge Stewart.
On the night of his death, Ward Jr. had gotten out of his car and was aggressively marching toward Stewart’s car — when he was struck.
There was talk that Stewart was angry with Ward Jr. and may have intentionally veered his car into him — but apparently the grand jury feels it was nothing more than a freak accident.
Investigators had said they had “enhanced video” of the incident — but clearly the footage did not persuade the grand jury that Stewart did anything illegal.
BangShift Editors Note:
We know that there has been a lot of talk and controversy surrounding this case, and with good reason. A young man died in a racing incident that never ever should have happened. Unfortunately this appears to be a case of everything going wrong and the result is tragic. We can’t imagine the pain and grief that the Ward family has been going through these past weeks, but our thoughts and prayers go out to them.
While no Grand Jury decision will ever change the minds of those who believe Stewart intentionally hit Ward, we hope that this puts this unfortunate accident to rest. Unfortunately, we are sitting here wondering when or if a wrongful death suite will be filed against Tony Stewart in the matter. Only time will tell.
CANNABIS FOUND IN WARD’S SYSTEM. WON’T KILL A CIVIL SUIT BUT SHOULD MAKE IT HARDER TO PROVE.
What kind of mornon gets out of a race car on an active track and tries to confront a driver in a moving vehicle. I rarely have any regard for my own personal safety and even I wouldn’t do something that stupid.
Amen, brother.
Agree not very smart
Of course there will be a civil suit; the most minor fender benders result in lawsuits these days. The standard in a criminal case is much higher (although it has been famously if somewhat tediously said that you can indict a ham sandwich if you wanted to), but in the civil case it will be lower. I know, many lawyers read this site and will have something to say. The suit will be filed shortly, there will be an announcement from the family that they are not doing it for the money and that they do not intend to settle, and Stewart’s camp will say they are not going to settle and expect to be totally vindicated and look forward to their day in court. Then about a year or so down the road it will settle after everyone just gets worn down by the system. (Yes, I sound cynical but that’s what you get after practicing law for over 30 years.) By then we can see if the racing bodies have learned anything and enact stronger rules about driver confrontations, and maybe prevent something like this in the future. This is certainly not a joyful day for either family, and I don’t envy them the days to come.
Geez you guys have a weird legal system…..so its OK to run down and kill someone if they’re a bit stoned? He won’t be done for murder or manslaughter – but he probably will get done for wrongful death? WTF….
I’m not jumping in on either side here, BTW – just saying that its a very weird situation that , in Australia at least, would definitely see its day in court…..condolences to the family….
Are you familar with all the circumstances? Why was he out of the car? Why did he approach a moving race car? Impared judgement? On the only video released to the general public, it appears Ward moves before the rear wheel gets him. It looks like he grabs the wing(in my opinion) and either can’t hold on or gets pulled into the rear wheel. My previous statement had to do with a civil suit. It sure sounds like daddy wants some money because of his son’s death-regardless of whether the son brought it upon himself.
Anyone who has ever driven a winged sprint or midget knows that the right side of these cars has a huge blind spot as the wing panel extends below the drivers line of sight.
NEVER approach these cars from the passenger side when it is running.
I only know what has been reported and the video/pictures that have been available. With what I know of spring car racing (used to be a LOT) there just wasn’t much for Tony to do. 1 – the evidence showed the other driver was impaired. It’s possible the accident that triggered the whole deal might not have been Tony’s fault either as Ward’s car might have slowed suddenly. If he was indeed impaired his decision-making skills, reflexed, and driving ability were all hampered. He had no business being at the controls of anything. Next had that person, dressed in black, walking out towards the moving cars (doing approx. 30-40mph) and the driver immediately in front of Steward swerving to miss which left Tony milliseconds to react to the person coming into his path. Knowing that the brakes would send the car pitching sideways and kicking the rear out more than if the throttle were used…..I’d likely hit the gas too. These cars aren’t road racers with precision steering using the front tires. The front tires are used as a fine adjustment to the real steering which is done with the throttle. Its sad and horrific, but I don’t see cause for malice or intent of any kind. Several bad decisions were made and it ultimately led to a very high price. Its hard for me to believe that no one in the pits or that knew Mr. Ward didn’t know he was high or had been using pot prior to the event. Racing isn’t a game. The thrill, excitement, and competition all come with opposing forces of danger, injury, or death even when the best decisions are made. Being impaired going into a race car is totally disregarding anyone else’s safety as well as your own not to mention completely disrespecting the rules and common sense. There’s no excuse for that and no argument that can put it in the right.
YESthis is a tragic accident that could have been prevented in several ways….lookin at all aspects of preventing this happening again,my first thought is Tony has more years of racing than the is old , so now we have a well known racer of several different styles racin at this track why let these drivers that are that young be in the race with tony.My point is a youngster like that i’m sure had the attitude that tony is gettin old n washed up n i can beat the old fart….i know that happens all over but just something to think about.The other thought i had is you seen alot of footage bout tony loosin his cool after this accident,but i dont recall seein any footage of the WARD BOY loosin his coll durin his racin career…so this was his first and only time of loosin his cool…very doubtful…but bein under the influence of weed defintly makes your reflexes slower and normally mellows most people out.so not bein disrespectful to the deceased or his family,lets get the media to dig up the dirt on the kid like they did tony,since they already have basically convicted him.