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Last year, in upstate New York, driver Kevin Ward Jr. lost his life when Tony Stewart ran him over during a caution. Ward got angry with Stewart after being sent into the wall by the NASCAR star. He then got out of his car and tried to confront Stewart about it before being clipped by Stewart’s vehicle.
Ward was just 20 years of age.
On Friday, Ward’s family filed a wrongful death suit against Stewart in Lewis County, New York.
Here is the statement from the Ward family.
"Our son was truly the light of our lives and we miss him terribly every day,” Ward’s parents said in a statement. “Our hope is that this lawsuit will hold Tony Stewart responsible for killing our son and show him there are real consequences when someone recklessly takes another person’s life."
The family contends that Stewart used his car as a weapon, driving as fast as he could towards Ward, before hitting him with his right rear tire.
"“Stewart could have easily acted reasonably and with prudence to avoid striking Ward, just as all other drivers had done as they passed Ward during the yellow caution flag. Stewart acted with disregard for Ward’s life and safety by driving his vehicle in a manner that would terrorize Ward and thereafter strike, severely injure and kill Ward.”"
Stewart was never criminally charged for Ward’s death, but it doesn’t mean he will avoid trouble in civil court. Stewart will race at Watkins Glen on Sunday. Including Sunday, there are five races left until the Sprint Chase for the Cup begins.
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