A number of outlets are reporting that Tony Stewart hit a driver who had left his car following an on track incident in a sprint car race in New York. There are unconfirmed reports that the driver, Kevin Ward, 17, has passed away.
Police are on the scene and will release a statement in the next few hours.
My thoughts are with Kevin Ward’s family at this time. I hope this wasn’t an example of Stewart losing his temper and trying to show up a young driver.
I just saw this story break on the AP; it doesn’t sound good at all. 
ETA: The AP story is dated 2:09am EST and doesn’t mention a death. It does, however, say that the guy was “thrown a great distance.”
(Stewart runs over the guy at about 0:30)
Another video of the incident (chizzuk’s link is already gone.)
It’s obvious in the video that Kevin Ward exited his car early (you’re never supposed to do that until emergency crews arrive) to challenge Stewart as he came back around the track. What’s less clear is whether or not Stewart intentionally swerved into him, or Ward merely got too close, or something in between.
Lesson learned: Never mess with a guy who’s notorious for his anger management issues. :dubious:
And the other driver is reported to be killed.
Sporting News story. Stewart hasn’t been arrested, but the investigation is still in the early stages.
I can’t see how anyone can blame Stewart for this after watching the video. Ward should win a Darwin award.
For those who haven’t seen the video: Ward crashes up against the outside wall. He gets out of his car, wearing a black jumpsuit and black helmet on a dark track. It is nighttime and dust is being kicked up by all the cars. He walks to the center of the track and starts pointing angrily at other cars. He “jumps” in front of another car, which narrowly misses him (I put jump in quotes because he didn’t literally jump, but moved quickly and erratically). Then Stewart’s car sideswipes Ward and sends him flying about 25 feet.
What Ward did was dangerous not only to himself but to other drivers who could have crashed trying to avoid him.
Here’s another video on youtube which probably won’t last long.
According to The Guardian, Stewart is cooperating and has been released.
And Kevin Ward was 20, not 17, according to the reports I’ve seen.
Why would he walk in the middle of the track? That’s insane.
The Sheriff’s Dept is now saying that the investigation is not criminal at this time.
IMHO, this appears to be a perfect storm of “young driver losing his temper and doing something stupid” and “old driver trying to show up young snot and doing something stupid”. The way Tony’s rear wheels kick indicates to me that he must have kicked the gas. I would have to think he thought he was past the kid and trying to spray him with dirt.
Either way, if this doesn’t end Tony’s sprint car career, I don’t know what will except Tony getting killed.
Saw the video. WTF was that kid thinking?
Insane enough that he got hit on the track but it’s extra nutty that the guy who hit him is the guy he was trying to run down.
I don’t see Tony doing anything wrong at all.
Where do you get “The way Tony’s rear wheels kick indicates to me that he must have kicked the gas”?
I see Tony swerve to get out of the way of a guy who has absolutely zero business being in the middle of the track.
This Jalopnik writer thinks so:
And so do some people who were there, via this Deadspin article, quoting other articles:
It doesn’t mean that’s definitely what happened, but it shows that’s not an unprecedented conclusion.
It does appear that Tony’s car is driving much faster than the other cars under the yellow flag. Seems to me that Tony may have responded to the other driver’s challenge by accelerating in his general direction, kinda like dealing with a tailgater by slamming on your brakes.
Can’t imagine that Tony meant to deliberately hit the guy though, let alone kill him. He must feel terrible.
There must be a lot of Tony Stewart haters in the racing world. I don’t watch or follow car racing of any sort, so I have no dog in this fight.
I don’t see Stewart’s car moving “much faster than the other cars” as another poster claims. Also, his car kicks sideways AFTER it hits Ward. I cannot see how anyone can claim that it’s because he hit the throttle. That Jalopnik writer obviously has some axe to grind.
Jesus, if that’s true…
Ugh, the thought of it makes my stomach sick.
Wow. I almost didn’t watch the video… but I did. Tony Stewart has a history of bad temper issues, and to me, this follows suit. However, that kid should have never been out on that track like that. Yes, drivers do it all the time under caution to point an angry finger at another driver, but jeez, at what cost?
I think that what will prevent Tony Stewart from facing any serious charges here is that if that kid stayed in/near his car 'till the crews got there, this wouldn’t have happened.
Even if Stewart was trying to send a message by driving rather quickly under caution, or driving/swerving too near the kid, I think this will be one of those terrible “thems-the-breaks” things.
Certainly no winners here, and a terrible thing for all involved.
(I think Tony Stewart is racing in the Nascar race today.)
They just announced that Stewart will not drive today. Regan Smith will take his place.
The bulk of my knowledge about the law is from watching “Law and Order” so forgive me for asking–is it weird that the police are investigating this as an “on-track incident?” I know the police need to investigate since there was a death, but wouldn’t it be a “death investigation?” Or am I looking for something that isn’t there?
I think the implication there- IANAL- is that this may just be “one of those things”, even though it was an actual death.
That’s terrible. I couldn’t really watch that.
Are these cars tracking data that could tell if he hit the gas or how he was steering at that moment?
A 17 year old kid didn’t have enough sense to stay in his car while a race was ongoing, regardless of the yellow flag. That was really a Darwin list move on the kid’s part. One car swerved to miss the him as he moved into the middle of the race area. Tony didn’t appear to move much, but it didn’t appear intentional.
Latest reports, per CNN, Tony is cooperating with police and no criminal charges are pending.
Chalk this up as an easily avoidable tragedy.