A sprint car event on Saturday night at Canandaigua Motorsports Park, New York that preceded Sunday’s Cheez-it 355 at Watkins Glen ended in tragedy when Nascar ace Tony Stewart collided with Kevin Ward Jr – who later died of his injuries.
The three-time Sprint Cup champion was battling for position with Ward, when the latter spun out and hit the outside wall. Ward then removed himself from his vehicle and started walking on the oval dirt track, where he gestured at Stewart’s racecar. Stewart’s car then struck Ward and slung the young driver’s body toward the wall. He remained motionless as emergency staff gathered round him.
Ward was transported to hospital by ambulance, but was pronounced dead on arrival.
“There aren’t words to describe the sadness I feel about the accident that took the life of Kevin Ward Jr. It’s a very emotional time for all involved. My thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and everyone affected by this tragedy,” Stewart said in a statement on Sunday.
The Nascar ace also pulled out of Sunday’s race. According to the local sheriff’s department, the investigation is not of a criminal nature and Stewart was being “fully cooperative.”
