Community Chat

[AnikaBrodie]

SOURCE: CNN, 9-24-14

(CNN) -- NASCAR driver Tony Stewart won't face charges in connection with the on-track death of sprint car racer Kevin Ward Jr., a New York district attorney announced Wednesday.

Stewart, a three-time NASCAR top series champion, was driving a dirt-track car when the right rear tire hit Ward, who was walking on the track as cars slowly circled during a break in an Empire Super Sprints series race August 9 in Canandaigua, New York.

Ward, 20, died of massive blunt trauma before paramedics could get him to a hospital.

The Ontario County District Attorney, said a grand jury found no reason to charge Stewart.

"After listening to and questioning all the witnesses and reviewing all of the evidence, the grand jury has decided that there is no evidence to charge Tony Stewart with any crimes." District Attorney Michael Tantillo told reporters.

The Ontario County grand jury heard testimony from more than two dozen witnesses and reviewed photos and videos before making its decision, Tantillo added.

[deepwaterdotter]

Thanks for posting this info.

[Sushismom]

I'm sure this will disappoint some people. But I believe they came to the right conclusion.

[Moonlady]

At least this information is correct. I can't tell you how many local reports I've seen during the past hour with "Tony Stewart Cleared Of Charges" emblazoned on the TV screen. Clearly, some of our local news people don't know that the grand jury does not clear people of charges, but decides whether or not they should be charged (in the event that a wimpy DA, concerned with public reaction in an election year, decides to bring a case before them).

[terrier3]

On 9/24/2014 Sushismom said:

I'm sure this will disappoint some people. But I believe they came to the right conclusion.

I'm glad that reviewed this very thoroughly.

[Moonlady]

I would hope that grand juries thoroughly examine the information presented to them; that's their job.

[AnikaBrodie]

It was reported on Fox News that Kevin Ward, Jr. was under the influence of marijuana at the time of his death. I was sorry to hear this.

[ical]

They didn't test his blood levels (Tony). Why? They just had some guy say, "Hey, he looked okay! No prah-blum!" <--paraphrase, of course.

But the guy under the wheel? They tested his blood.

[Sushismom]

Why any driver would think it's okay to race under the influence is beyond me. Not only do they put themselves at risk but they put other drivers at risk.

NASCAR does random drug testing. As far as I'm aware, Stewart has never failed one. And this race was prior to a Sprint Cup Series race. I doubt Stewart would take a chance. But it wasn't just "some guy"; it was a certified drug recognition expert who determined there was no basis for alcohol or drug impairment on Stewart's part.

[AnikaBrodie]

They performed an autopsy on Kevin. I'm sure that blood testing was part of that procedure. This is the norm.