Three-time NASCAR champion Tony Stewart will not face charges in the death of fellow driver driver Kevin Ward Jr, after fatally hitting the 20-year-old in a race last month.
Ward was hit and killed in a horrifying crash that was caught on film, but a grand jury decided today not to bring up any charges against Stewart.
At an afternoon press conference announcing the decision, Ontario County District Attorney Michael Tantillo made the startling revelation that Ward was under the influence of marijuana the night he was hit and that there was enough of the drug in his system 'to impair judgement'.
Ward was fatally struck by Stewart while getting out of his car to confront the racing veteran, after the two collided on a prior lap at a race on August 9 at upstate New York's Canandaigua Motorsports Park track.
Victim: Kevin Ward Jr, 20, died August 9 after being struck by Stewart's car at a dirt-track race in upstate New York. It was revealed Wednesday that Ward was under the influence of marijuana at the time of his death – enough to 'impair judgement'
WARNING GRAPHIC: Tony Stewart's car hits Kevin Ward
Three-time NASCAR champion Tony Stewart will not face charges in the death of fellow driver driver Kevin Ward Jr, after fatally hitting the 20-year-old in a race last month.
Ward was hit and killed in a horrifying crash that was caught on film, but a grand jury decided today not to bring up any charges against Stewart.
At an afternoon press conference announcing the decision, Ontario County District Attorney Michael Tantillo made the startling revelation that Ward was under the influence of marijuana the night he was hit and that there was enough of the drug in his system 'to impair judgement'.
Ward was fatally struck by Stewart while getting out of his car to confront the racing veteran, after the two collided on a prior lap at a race on August 9 at upstate New York's Canandaigua Motorsports Park track.
Victim: Kevin Ward Jr, 20, died August 9 after being struck by Stewart's car at a dirt-track race in upstate New York. It was revealed Wednesday that Ward was under the influence of marijuana at the time of his death – enough to 'impair judgement'
WARNING GRAPHIC: Tony Stewart's car hits Kevin Ward
