Las Vegas Sun

April 25, 2024

Massive blunt trauma caused racer’s death

Tony Stewart

Jim Cole / AP

Driver Tony Stewart talks with his crew after practice Saturday, July 12, 2014, for the Sprint Cup Series at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, N.H.

Updated Monday, Aug. 11, 2014 | 3:29 p.m.

Click to enlarge photo

This July 5, 2014, photo provided by Empire Super Sprints, Inc., shows sprint car driver Kevin Ward Jr., in the victory lane with his car at the Fulton Speedway in Fulton, N.Y.

Kevin Ward Jr. died of blunt force trauma when he was hit by a car driven by NASCAR star Tony Stewart.

Ontario County Sheriff Philip Povero says the autopsy was completed Monday. The 20-year-old driver was competing in a dirt-track race in upstate New York.

Authorities questioned Stewart on Saturday night and went to Watkins Glen to talk to him again Sunday. Povero said Monday there were no plans "at this time" to talk to him again.

There is no timetable to complete the investigation.

Povero says there is nothing in the inquiry that supports criminal conduct or probable cause. He says there was no camera in Stewart's car.

AP Auto Racing Writer Jenna Fryer, AP Sports Writers John Wawrow and John Kekis and AP Writer David Klepper contributed to this report. Gelston reported from Philadelphia.

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