The sheriff in Ontario County said that at the moment, he does not expect to file criminal charges against NASCAR driver Tony Stewart following an incident at a sprint car race that killed 20-year-old driver Kevin Ward Jr.
Ontario County Sheriff Phil Povero told the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle that he "has yet to see any evidence of any criminal intent on Stewart's part" in the crash that killed Ward at Canandaigua Motorsports Park early Saturday morning.
Povero said Stewart has been fully cooperating with what is an ongoing investigation, which he did not characterize as a criminal investigation at this time. He asked anyone with video of the crash to contact his office at (585) 394-4560. The sheriff also wants to talk with anyone with expertise in sprint car racing, the newspaper reported.
Following a crash between the two during the Canandaigua race, Ward left his sprint car apparently to confront Stewart on the track, according to video captured at the race.
As Stewart's car passed by, he ran over the young driver dressed in a black firesuit and black helmet. Ward was transported to a local hospital by ambulance where he was pronounced dead on arrival.