UPDATE: Tony Stewart will not Face Criminal Charges

“Tony Stewart will not face criminal charges in the death of sprint car driver Kevin Ward Jr., a grand jury in upstate New York determined on Wednesday.

The Ontario County District Attorney’s office took the evidence in Stewart’s case to a grand jury, which has now ruled that there was no basis for criminal charges in the death of Ward in an Aug. 9 sprint car race at Canandaigua Motorsports Park, D.A. Michael Tantillo announced.

“After listening to and questioning all of the witnesses, and reviewing all of the evidence, the grand jury has determined that there is no basis to charge Tony Stewart with any crimes; his case was “No-Billed” by the grand jury,” Tantillo said in a brief statement.

Tantillo said approximately two dozen witnesses testified. Two videos, photos and “other documentary evidence” of the incident in which Ward, 20, climbed from his car during the race after his and Stewart’s had cars made contact, sending Ward’s car into the wall, and was then fatally struck by Stewart’s car, also were reviewed. The 23-member grand jury found no evidence to suggest that Stewart was criminally negligent in the incident.

The grand jury’s finding – which is consistent with the the initial statements by Sheriff Phillip Povero to the effect that there was no evidence to suggest any wrongdoing on Stewart’s part – clears the NASCAR star from criminal proceedings in the case, although he still could still face a civil suit from Ward’s family.”

Source: http://www.racer.com