According to the Columbus Airport director, Tony Stewart's private jet took off from Columbus, Indiana to an unknown destination just five days after he killed Kevin Ward Jr. in a sprint car race.
Brian Payne, the director of Columbus Airport, told MailOnline that Tony Stewart's private jet flew into the airport, luggage was loaded onto it, and then it flew out. According to Stewart's team spokesman, the NASCAR driver is going to stay with friends while he awaits the results of the investigation. Payne was unsure if Stewart was on the plane.
The Ontario, New York sheriff says the investigation is ongoing and they're trying to determine whether or not Stewart will face criminal charges. Sheriff Philip Povero has repeatedly insisted he hasn't come across any evidence that suggests Stewart should be charged criminally even after numerous interviews with the NASCAR driver. The investigative team is currently working on a reconstruction of the accident scene.
Kevin Ward Sr. has spoken publicly about the death of his son and said it seemed as if 'Stewart was the only one driving out there who didn't see' his son, according to The Syracuse Post-Standard. Stewart struck and killed Kevin Ward Jr. during a sprint cup race in upstate New York on Saturday night after Ward exited his car and walked onto the track when his car was bumped and sent into the wall by Stewart.
"Tony Stewart was the best damn driver by far on the track that night," Ward Sr. said in the Post-Standard article. "Why he had to go up as high as he did and hog my son, there's no reason for it."
But Stewart has support from his teammate and friend, fellow NASCAR driver Kevin Harvick. Faced with a lot of pressure, Stewart has withdrawn from the past two NASCAR races and has not decided when he will return to racing. Investigators also said Stewart was 'deeply saddened' by the incident.
"Tony Stewart is a great person," said Harvick, in this USA Today article. "I know in my heart he would never do anything like that on purpose. We just have to let it all play out. I do know that Tony is a great friend of mine, I've known him a long time, and he probably has the biggest heart of anybody in that garage."
You can follow the latest about Tony Stewart in this NASCAR.com article.
