Photo Credit: Mike Holtsclaw
On Monday evening, Orange County Sherriff Phillip C. Povero hosted a news conference to update the media with regards to the investigation in the incident between Tony Stewart and Kevin Ward Jr.
“The investigation is progressing along well,” he stated. “The investigators have talked to persons that have some relevant, factual information that is of value to the case. The people that have been contact have co-operated, and have first hand knowledge. Hopefully it will help us come to a conclusion with regards to this tragedy.”
During a sprint car event on Saturday night at Canandaigua (N.Y.) Motorsports Park, Ward Jr. was spun out by Stewart. He then got out of his car to display his displeasure, when Stewart’s car would make contact with Ward, sending him sliding across the track. Ward Jr. would be transported to hospital, where he was pronounced dead upon arrival.
The Orange County Coroner’s office did an autopsy and said that the cause of death was massive blunt-force trauma. Nothing else with regards to the autopsy will be released in the coming days.
As stated yesterday, officers are working to reconstruct the accident and Povero says that has “been successful in working in gaining information from the track on Saturday night”. They also have a pair of videos of the incident, in which both have been reviewed. Povero added that they are “actively seeking for people who are familiar with dirt racing to analyze the crash”. They are also continuing to speak with different people about the incident.
“The people that we find are most valuable with regards to their information are persons that were involved in the race, people that were there that saw the incident,” he said.
Povero went on to say that the investigation is still ongoing and there are no set timeline on how long it will take.
“Although we certainly want to complete this investigation as quickly as possible,” he added. “Right now, we continue to work with as quickly as we can to locate and evaluate relevant information. With that said, we appreciate your continued interest and we will try to be as timely as we can in providing information to the media about the investigation.
“We have never really done anything like this regarding a situation of this significance. To put a timeline on it, we’re reluctant to do. We will investigate as long as it takes to obtain the information that is needed.”
Povero also repeated from yesterday that there have not been any charges filed against Stewart.
“As we speak at this time, there are no facts that support any criminal behavior or conduct, or any probable cause of a criminal act in this investigation,” Povero stated. “I repeat – this is an open investigation. No criminal charges have been placed against anyone, and no facts at this point that would support probable cause of any criminal behavior.”
As the same throughout the whole investigation, Stewart has been co-operative as Povero says, “We have been in contact today with Mr. Stewart’s representative and he is available when necessary to discuss.”
Stewart missed Sunday’s race at Watkin’s Glen with Regan Smith filling in for him. SHR has also stated that Stewart has canceled running a planned sprint car race this coming Saturday in Indiana and won’t do any racing beyond NASCAR until further notice. As for the next Sprint Cup Series race on Sunday at Michigan, a decision has yet to be made.
“The decision to compete in this weekend’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at Michigan will be Tony’s, and he will have as much time as he needs to make that decision,” SHR director of communications Mike Arning said. “It is still an emotional time for all involved, Tony included. He is grieving, and grief doesn’t have a timetable.”
