CANANDAIGUA, N.Y. (AP) — A sheriff in upstate New York says there are no current plans to interview Tony Stewart for a third time.
Authorities talked to the three-time NASCAR champion Saturday night, and again yesterday, concerning the death of a fellow driver during a dirt-track sprint-car race.
The other driver, Kevin Ward, had been in a wreck, and had then walked out onto the track — apparently to confront Stewart about the wreck. Stewart’s car appeared to fishtail from the rear, hitting and killing Ward.
The sheriff said yesterday that investigators don’t have any evidence to support criminal intent, but that criminal charges haven’t been ruled out. He has appealed for spectators to turn over photos and videos of the crash — amid questions about whether Stewart was trying to intimidate Ward by driving too close to him, only to have the risky move turn fatal.
Stewart dropped out of yesterday’s NASCAR race at Watkins Glen, hours after Saturday’s crash. There’s no word yet on whether he will drive in this weekend’s NASCAR race in Michigan.
A spokesman says Stewart “will have as much time as he needs to make that decision.” The spokesman says it’s “still an emotional time for all involved, Tony included.”
%@AP Links
191-v-29-(Jack Briggs, AP correspondent)–The investigation goes on in the death of a race car driver who was hit on the track by NASCAR veteran Tony Stewart. AP correspondent Jack Briggs has details. (11 Aug 2014)
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154-a-10-(Matt Friedman (FREED’-man), co-owner, Tanner Friedman public relations firm, in AP interview)-“he’s associated with”-Public relations expert Matt Friedman says Tony Stewart shouldn’t be racing cars until there’s some sort of resolution to Saturday’s deadly incident. (11 Aug 2014)
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APPHOTO NYME104: In this Friday, Aug. 8, 2014 photograph, Tony Stewart stands in the garage area after a practice session for Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series auto race at Watkins Glen International, in Watkins Glen N.Y. Stewart struck and killed Kevin Ward Jr., 20, a sprint car driver who had climbed from his car and was on the track trying to confront Stewart during a race at Canandaigua Motorsports Park in upstate New York on Saturday night. Ontario County Sheriff Philip Povero said his department’s investigation is not criminal and that Stewart was “fully cooperative” and appeared “very upset” over what had happened. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton) (10 Aug 2014)
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APPHOTO NYR101: ADDS MANDATORY CREDIT- This June 28, 2014 photo provided by Empire Super Sprints, Inc., shows sprint car driver Kevin Ward Jr., at the Merrittville Speedway in Thorold, Canada. Ward was killed Saturday, Aug. 9, 2014 at the Canandaigua Motorsports Park in Central Square, N.Y., when the car being driven by Tony Stewart struck the 20-year-old who had climbed from his crashed car and was on the darkened dirt track trying to confront Stewart following a bump with Stewart one lap earlier. (AP Photo/Empire Super Sprints, Inc.) (28 Jun 2014)
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