Tony Stewart Kills yound sprint car driver

[Havanaaddict]

It's truly unfortunate. I understand emotions are running high, but to get out of your car and walk into the middle of the track to make a point is not a good decision. I feel bad for all parties involved.

It is sad but when man vs. car 9 out of 10 times car will win!!!

[SaintLuis]

It's kind of crazy to just assume someone would murder someone and intentionally aim for them in their race-car.

Hot head or not, murder 1 is a bit of stretch for the base assumption.

[AndrewNR]

I would call this Darwins theory.. However I don't believe either superior being has survived..

[Ken Gargett]

It's kind of crazy to just assume someone would murder someone and intentionally aim for them in their race-car.

Hot head or not, murder 1 is a bit of stretch for the base assumption.

i'm sure people in the states getting far better coverage than we are but have they actually discussed murder 1 for this? that seems a massive stretch. unless they have other evidence from prior, suggesting he was out to do that and that would seem highly unlikely. surely charges would be possibly manslaughter or culpable negligence (or the equivalent), which seem far more likely.

i doubt anyone really sees this as a murder plan. but i can see that flash of anger and a stupid act. and that could lead to those lesser charges. not murder. be near impossible to prove prior intent.

[dubleuhb]

At this time no charges are being filed.....but they are still investigating and looking to find anyone with more video of the incident.

The local radio and TV news still trying to paint Stewart as someone who should not be walking the streets anymore by digging up past events.

If they had the slightest bit of evidence to indict they will, this is NY,...... and it's best I leave it at that.

[backslide]

If he didn't walk out into the middle of the track, he'd be alive today. Tragic but, he killed himself not the other guy.

[Ken Gargett]

If he didn't walk out into the middle of the track, he'd be alive today. Tragic but, he killed himself not the other guy.

you are right. if he didn't get out of the car and go off on to the track - so stupid - he'd be alive. but to say he killed himself is a bit like saying if someone goes to a dodgy part of town it is his fault if he is killed. contributory negligence for sure but it does not absolve others if they are deliberately or negligently involved.

[CaptainQuintero]

Watching the video it seems incredible the guy wasn't hit by any number of the passing cars before he finally was.

It seems that there was pretty much only one thing destined to happen when he decided to get out of his car and start to stomping around the middle of the track, it was a miracle he lasted as long as he did judging how the cars were reacting trying to avoid him.

[BH2876]

truly a stupid stupid thing to do - get out and walk into the track. tragic result, not unexpected.

that said, curious that of all the cars whizzing around that track, it is the bloke with whom he had the beef who 'accidently' hits him. hell of a coincidence.

Absolutely agree, he caused him to spin out, then did an entire lap around the track, he obviously saw the car stopped on the track as did every other driver. In the video you see 6 other cars pass the driver on the track once he was out of his car.Stewart gunned his engine and ran right into him.

He is a professional driver that has been driving all of his life, I am sure he was fully aware of what was going on on the track the entire time.It is an easy out for him to say, oh I didn't even see him it was dark or I was driving so fast, that's funny because everyone else saw him. The victim will be blamed for his stupidity and Steward will walk away unscathed.

This is just my opinion.

[AlohaStyle]

Take it for what it's worth, ESPN showed an interview with Cory Sparks today who is a friend and fellow race car driver of the guy that passed away and was a few cars behind Tony Stewart when he hit him. He said that drivers steer these cars with the rear wheels just as much than using the steering wheel. He said that in his opinion, Stewart gassed the car before impact to steer the car downwards away from him. Said he tried to steer down as abruptly and quickly as possible and that the blame game isn't fair to either family.

[...]

What point was the younger guy trying to make by getting out of the car and, instead of running away from the speeding cars (like everybody would have done), and running straight through the track to get close to Stewart's car?

Was he trying to force him to steer into a spin, crash into another car or what. Really, what was he expecting to happen???

His death was statistically almost unavoidable once he decided to run through the track. Suicide?

[Ken Gargett]

His death was statistically almost unavoidable once he decided to run through the track. Suicide?

whatever it was, and i think everyone agrees it was really stupid, it was not suicide.

[Fosgate]

Looks like his past aggressiveness may come back to haunt him.

http://video.foxnews.com/v/3728176014001/brand-new-bombshell-for-tony-stewart/#sp=show-clips

[MIKA27]

Looks like his past aggressiveness may come back to haunt him.

http://video.foxnews.com/v/3728176014001/brand-new-bombshell-for-tony-stewart/#sp=show-clips

I think He'll escape any criminal punishment BUT will no doubt be sued.

[Laynard]

"Rubbin's racin'!"

I'm tired of the demonizing of Stewart. He should counter-sue for emotional distress and wages lost. He didn't make the kid walk in front of him.

[Ken Gargett]

"Rubbin's racin'!"

I'm tired of the demonizing of Stewart. He should counter-sue for emotional distress and wages lost. He didn't make the kid walk in front of him.

i don't watch this or really any form of car racing at all but i assume that these guys earn a significant proportion of their income via sponsors.

if so, sueing the estate of a kid you ran over, deliberately or not, may not endear him to audiences and sponsors alike. and good luck convincing a jury!

[Laynard]

i don't watch this or really any form of car racing at all but i assume that these guys earn a significant proportion of their income via sponsors.

if so, sueing the estate of a kid you ran over, deliberately or not, may not endear him to audiences and sponsors alike. and good luck convincing a jury!

Yeah. It's probably not really an option. The media just irks me the way they are almost pushing the suit against Tony. Yeah he's an aggressive racer. But he's not a psycho. Well, maybe he is. I don't actually know him. But I'd like to give him the benefit of the doubt. It's an unfortunate tragedy and it should be left at that. Tony being sued or indicted doesn't bring the deceased back. And it won't stop this from happening again with other parties.

[Ken Gargett]

Yeah. It's probably not really an option. The media just irks me the way they are almost pushing the suit against Tony. Yeah he's an aggressive racer. But he's not a psycho. Well, maybe he is. I don't actually know him. But I'd like to give him the benefit of the doubt. It's an unfortunate tragedy and it should be left at that. Tony being sued or indicted doesn't bring the deceased back. And it won't stop this from happening again with other parties.

i suspect that, if it does go further and there is not compelling evidence from an as yet unseen video or prior history, just as he'd struggle to convince a jury for damages against the dead kid, so too will any prosecution struggle to convince all members of a jury. one assumes his defence will be competent enough to ensure a few jurors who will not be easily swayed. swings and roundabouts.

[dubleuhb]

Interesting how the media has changed the scenario, now when they talk about it they just say the kid got out of his car and was walking across the track. Not that he jumped out actively seeking Stewarts car and moving toward it as he came back around the track.

Stewart may be at fault for spinning the guy out but he's not at fault for the guys rash decision which is what ended up killing him.

I'll say it again, if it was any other driver but Stewart I bet he doesn't get out of his car and try to make a spectacle on the track.

So know the owners of the track, they own a couple more in this state, have adopted a new policy that you do not exit your car until emergency personnel have told you to. Of course they have exceptions for fires and such. Great job, just like the government, one person makes a bad decision and a new rule/law comes into effect to save us all from the stupid people/ourselves.......

[Lotusguy]

It's always been the rule at any track event that I have attended that you are to remain in your car until help comes, unless your car is on fire.

[MIKA27]

Tony Stewart will not face charges over fatal sprint car accident

Tony Stewart will not face criminal charges related to the on-track death of a sprint car rival in August.

Ontario Country District Attorney Michael Tantillo confirmed on Wednesday that a grand jury had determined that there was no reason to charge the three-time Sprint Cup champion.

The matter was in connection with the death of Kevin Ward Jr, who was struck and killed by Stewart's car during a race in Canandaigua, New York.

Tantillo said: "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.

"During the course of the grand jury presentation, approximately two dozen witnesses testified.

"These included a number of race car drivers, racetrack employees and volunteers, two accident reconstruction experts, medical personnel, and a number of police officers.

"In addition, the grand jury reviewed a number of photographs and video recordings, as well as other documentary evidence.

"After listening to and questioning all of the witnesses, and reviewing all of the evidence, the grand jury has determined that there is no basis to charge Tony Stewart with any crimes; his case was 'No-Billed' by the grand jury."

Tantillo also said that Ward, who had left his car following a wreck and approached Stewart's car on foot when he was hit, was under the influence of marijuana at the time of the accident.

Toxicology evidence suggested that "the levels that were determined were enough to impair his judgement."

Shortly after the grand jury's decision was announced, Stewart released a statement expressing his relief that the investigation had brought the facts of the accident to the surface.

"I respect everything the District Attorney and Sheriff's Office did to thoroughly investigate this tragic accident," he said.

"While the process was long and emotionally difficult, it allowed for all the facts of the accident to be identified and known.

"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."

NASCAR followed with a statement of its own.

"There are no winners in tragedy," it read. "Our thoughts and prayers remain with the Kevin Ward Jr. family and Tony Stewart as they all cope with this tragic incident at Canandaigua Motorsports Park.

"This has been a difficult time for everyone involved and we have respected the local authorities responsible for reviewing this case."