Tony Stewart Crash Video: Race Footage Appears To Exonerate Stewart

The Tony Stewart crash video shows a tragic situation in which the NASCAR racer strikes and kills a 20-year-old driver, but while shocking, the video also appears to exonerate Stewart from blame in the crash.

The accident took place Saturday night on a dirt track in Canandaigua, New York. Stewart got tangled with 20-year-old driver Kevin Ward Jr., who ended up spinning out. As the drivers rounded the track again, Ward left his car and stepped onto the track, pointing toward Stewart.

The car in front of Stewart swerved, but Stewart could not avoid Ward and struck him. Ward was sent flying onto the track, and soon died from his injuries.

Local police investigated the crash, but deemed that it was an accident and that Tony Stewart was not at fault.

“There aren’t words to describe the sadness I feel about the accident that took the life of Kevin Ward Jr.,” Stewart said in a statement released on Sunday. “It’s a very emotional time for all involved…. My thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and everyone affected by this tragedy.”

Stewart decided to pull out of Sunday’s race at Watkin’s Glen, which dealt a blow to his championship chances, according to ESPN.

On Sunday, the Tony Stewart crash video emerged on the internet, leading to a debate of whether Stewart may have been at fault or even intentionally struck Kevin Ward Jr.

On a Reddit post of the Tony Stewart crash video, one user broke down the footage and determined that Stewart could not avoid the crash.

The user noted:

“In fact, I’m at least somewhat sure Tony Stewart did his best to avoid Ward given the footage. Sprint cars race on dirt tracks with little traction. In fact, the entire process of turning involves hitting the accelerator to drift the back to push the correct course through the car’s center around the track.”

“On the opposite side of the spectrum, if you brake, there is substantial skidding that happens which throws the car towards the outside of the turn. Also note that Kevin Ward likely chose a path approaching, and around the 45 car that likely caused Ward to only become visible to Stewart at the very last second when the 45 car passed. In fact, the time between Ward being to the side of the 45 car and potentially in Stewart’s field of view and the time that Stewart hits is less than 2 seconds.”

The Tony Stewart crash video can be seen here (warning, it is disturbing).