43 replies to this topic

[bowtie29]

grand jury will not indict tony stewart in death of kevin ward jr

Edited by bowtie29, 24 September 2014 - 02:07 PM.

[corky88]

Ward had marijuana in his system as well, not saying that did or did not impair him but will help Tony in a wrongful death law suit.

[kip77]

Yep, kinda hard to win a lawsuit with him being high on dope at the time of the accident.

Edited by kip77, 24 September 2014 - 02:12 PM.

[D1RT]

two posts above.......

Edited by D1RT, 24 September 2014 - 02:13 PM.

[bowtie29]

there was enough found that he was impaired

[D1RT]

From Yahoo Sports.......

 

Tony Stewart will not be charged by an Ontario County (N.Y.) Grand Jury in the death of Kevin Ward Jr.

 

The grand jury announced Wednesday that there was no evidence of a criminal act. The case was passed on to the grand jury by Ontario County District Attorney Michael Tantillo last week. The Ontario County Sheriff's Department investigated the August 9 incidentfor approximately a month before the evidence had been presented to Tantillo.

By New York state law, any case that possibly involves felony charges must go to a grand jury for a possible indictment. Tuesday, the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle reported that the grand jury was hearing testimony in the case. The grand jury had three options: felony charges, misdemeanor charges or no charges. It chose the third option, which is referred to as a "no-bill."

Tantillo said "two dozen" people were interviewed in the case and said that Ward had marijuana in his system and that the amount found was "enough to impair judgment."

He also said that there was no evidence of "aberrational" driving from Stewart before he hit Ward and that it appeared Stewart was driving in a straight line until he hit Ward.

Stewart, a three-time Sprint Cup Series champion and Ward, 20, were racing together at Canandaigua Motorsports Park in a sprint car race when Ward hit the wall. After his car came to a stop, Ward got out and walked down the track to confront Stewart. The right-rear tire of Stewart's car hit Ward, propelling him down the track. He was pronounced dead on arrival at a local hospital. Ward was ruled to have died due to blunt force trauma.

According to Tantillo, the grand jury was considering two charges; second degree murder and criminally negligent homicide.

The lack of criminal charges in the case does not rule out the possibility of a civil suit, such as a wrongful death lawsuit against Stewart.

A week after the incident, NASCAR said that drivers would be banned from exiting their cars following an accident barring dangerous circumstances (like a fire) until safety personnel arrive.

Stewart missed three races after the incident and returned to the Sprint Cup Series at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Labor Day weekend. There, he offered a brief and emotional statement and he couldn't take questions about the incident because of the investigation but that there would be a day in the future when he could.

The same weekend, NASCAR announced that it would give Stewart a waiver to make the Chase for the Sprint Cup despite his three-race absence. To use the waiver, however, Stewart would have had to win at Atlanta or Richmond. He did neither and missed the Chase. With eight races left in the Sprint Cup Series season, Stewart has not won a race. If he finishes the season without a win, it'd be the first winless season of his career.

[NotToday]

Wow there was more to it than the video, I'm f-ing shocked!, I thought dope was ok to use these days. Idiocracy!

[suhoney18]

Also another good point is that ward had been warned more than once by the 360 series to stay in his car...

Edited by suhoney18, 24 September 2014 - 02:53 PM.

[racer111]

How did you find out that he was warned by ESS to stay in his car?  I'm not questioning that, just wondered how you found out?

[suhoney18]

How did you find out that he was warned by ESS to stay in his car?  I'm not questioning that, just wondered how you found out?

there was an article online from a journalist who works pr up that way and it said they have had talks with him before about getting out of his car

[speedster101]

I can't believe the dude was stoned while racing

[racer111]

Thanks Suhoney, was just wondering...so he had done this before apparently?

 

I know of a few drivers back in the day that always got stoned before racing sprint cars, one of them extremely well known, this was back in the open trailer days, one driver would sit on the back of his trailer and smoke one before he strapped in...

 

However, I really didn't think it happened anymore with sprint car drivers..just one more thing to put a black mark on the sport.

[TCM29]

That explains the irrational tantrum that cost him his life. (soon to be legal in the entire US) What angers me is the negative portrayal of TS with all the unshaven mug shot photos by the stick and ball media. Guess that gives them their "balance" in light of all the NFL's feral crimes. If the first car that (almost) hit this kid had killed him it would have never went beyond the NY papers or racing news. Now a civil suit will follow for the family lottery, as nobody in the US takes responsibility for their actions.

[racer111]

I also noticed the pictures of Tony, they had to have gone through their files and found the worst photos that they could find...I noticed on the news tonight the pictures NOW are very good ones of Tony...

 

I'm not an attorney, but how could the Ward family have a leg to stand on since drugs were found in his system?

[TCM29]

Check out the current headline on Yahoo- it says "marijuana in system" with no reference to who had it- (implies it was TS). Plus, another mug shot photo. Bastards.......

[Crusty1]

I think the media is pathetic but Tony looks like he needs a shave just about every photo you see of him.

As far as the Wards,I hope they just drop the civil suit and let this go away.
I stated before I'm not a Tony fan,but the man did NOTHING wrong!
RIP Kevin Ward jr.

[snooky]

Oh they will suit Tony. Doubt they will win. However, the track, sponsor and series may not make out so well. Issues like do rules state driver must stay in car, are rules explained, track lighting, caution lap and pace policies etc. Fact he was stoned doesn't help their case.

[Crusty1]

Ward had marijuana in his system as well, not saying that did or did not impair him but will help Tony in a wrongful death law suit.

Le'Veon Bell said as long as he wasn't smoking while driving he should of been OK.

[Express Man]

No Hope   DOPE!!  Cased Closed!  Hooray for Tony Stewart!  Civil suite will fail..... Can't say anyone else was responsible when you are IMPAIRED!  Get in any motor vehicle accident IMPAIRED and you are automatically at fault!  Even if the accident wasn't your fault!  Best possible outcome for Tony!  Thank the Lord above for Justice in this case!  Now I think this message board and all the other ones have a lot of people that owe Tony Stewart an .....I'm sorry I shot my mouth off before all the facts were known!

[tjtrackrabbit]

What ticks me off is this kid had his parents support in racing.  Something I would have died for, then he goes and does dope while racing.  Lost a lot of sympathy for him !