![\"ward](\"https:\/\/csinewsnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/ward-stewart2a.jpg\")
<\/a>CANANDAIGUA, N.Y. (AP) \u2013 Officials continue to investigate the accident Saturday night that claimed the life of a young dirt track driver.<\/p>\nKevin Ward Jr. made the fatal mistake of getting out of his car during the race and walking on the track after hitting the wall. He was apparently trying to confront the man who he had made contact with before hitting the wall, NASCAR veteran Tony Stewart.<\/p>\n
Ward was wearing all black on a dimly lit track. After one car moved to avoid hitting him, Stewart wasn\u2019t able to avoid the 20-year old and Ward was hit. According to video and witness accounts, Ward\u2019s body was sucked underneath the car and hurtled through the air before landing on his back as fans looked on in horror.<\/p>\n
Ontario County Sheriff Philip Povero said that criminal charges have not been ruled out, but that investigators don\u2019t have any evidence at this point in the investigation to support criminal intent. Povero said Ward died of blunt force trauma when he was hit by the car.<\/p>\n
He said Monday that there were no plans \u201cat this time\u201d to talk to Stewart again and that there is no timetable as to when the investigation will conclude.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Previously….<\/p>\n
WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (AP) – Tony Stewart did not take part in the NASCAR race at Watkins Glen. He withdrew before the start of the race, hours after killing a dirt track racer during a race in upstate New York. The three-time champion struck and killed Kevin Ward Jr., who had climbed from his car and was on the darkened dirt track trying to confront Stewart during a race.<\/p>\n
Ward had crashed following contact with Stewart one lap earlier and got out of his car as it was stopped along the fence. Video of the incident showed Ward walking from his crashed car onto the racing surface as cars circled by, and, as he gestured at Stewart’s passing car, he was struck.<\/p>\n
Ontario County Sheriff Philip Povero said that criminal charges have not been ruled out, but that investigators don’t have any evidence at this point in the investigation to support criminal intent.<\/p>\n
Authorities questioned the 43-year-old Stewart once on Saturday night and went to Watkins Glen to talk to him again Sunday. They described him as “visibly shaken” after the crash and said he was cooperative.<\/p>\n