The never-ending saga of the late Kevin Ward Jr.’s death in a race where Tony Stewart raced takes another turn. Today, the Ward family filed a wrongful death suit against Tony Stewart in Lewis County (NY) Supreme Court. This comes one year after Ward’s death when he exited his car after a wreck and ran towards Stewart’s car, and where Stewart clipped the driver and this ultimately led to his unfortunate death.
Tony Stewart to be Sued for Kevin Ward Jr.’s Death
After a court in September 2014 found that Stewart would not be held criminally responsible for Ward’s death, the family vowed the matter was not over. At the time of his death at Canandaigua Motorsports Park, it was found that Stewart had not driven in a harmful manner, and that Ward had marijuana in his system at the time of the accident. The cause of death was massive blunt force trauma.
It should be remembered that the standard for a criminal conviction is guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, however in this civil suit they case will be based on the balance of probabilities.
The Ward family has not specified damages at this time in their filing. Stewart is racing this weekend in NASCARS annual trip to Watkins Glen International, under 200 miles from the sight of Ward’s death last summer. Tony Stewart missed three races after Ward’s death, and spoke to how he would never be the same again when he returned at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Both parties are represented by attorneys at this time.
WATKINS GLEN, NY – AUGUST 08: Tony Stewart, driver of the #14 Rush Truck Centers/Mobil 1 Chevrolet, looks on in the garage area during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Cheez-It 355 at Watkins Glen International on August 8, 2014 in Watkins Glen, New York. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
