Tony Stewart Won’t Face Charges in Death of Kevin Ward Jr.
NASCAR champion Tony Stewart will not face any charges in the sudden death of Kevin Ward Jr.
ESPN reported that the grand jury did not find any reason to file charges against Stewart after videos of the incident showed that that three-time NASCAR champion did not hit Ward intentionally.
Ontario County District Attorney Michael Tantillo also ruled that Ward was under influence of marijuana when the incident happened, which was "enough to impair judgment."
Ward's family expressed disappointment over the result of the investigation, especially when they learned the Ward's use of marijuana played a big factor.
"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," Ward's family said in a statement via ESPN. "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."
During the sprint car race, Ward went out of his car and walked on the track to confront Stewart. Several cars had to swerve to avoid hitting Ward. Stewart appeared to have avoided Ward as well, but the 20-year-old was hit by the rear tire of Stewart's car.
Stewart, who has 48 Cup wins under his belt, spent more than three weeks in seclusion following Ward's death. In a press conference, the 43-year-old said that the tragic incident will affect his life forever.
"This has been the toughest and most emotional experience of my life, and it will stay with me forever," Stewart said. "While much of the attention has been on me, it's important to remember a young man lost his life. Kevin Ward Jr.'s family and friends will always be in my thoughts and prayers."
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