A highway accident on August 18 led to the death of Ashlea Albertson, a 24-year-old racing talent associated with Tony Stewart Racing.
The crash occurred on northbound Interstate 65 in Jackson County, Indiana at around 11:30 am.
Indiana State Police’s initial reports said that two vehicles, a Chevrolet Malibu driven by 22-year-old Austin Cooper and a GMC Terrain driven by Jacob Kelly, 31, engaged in a high-risk driving situation. This resulted in a collision where Albertson, a passenger in the Terrain and Kelly’s fiancee, was ejected. Although promptly taken to a hospital, she did not survive her injuries. Cooper, Kelly, and a young passenger in the Malibu received non-severe injuries.
Tony Stewart, a famed figure in racing, expressed his sorrow over the incident.
There’s ongoing speculation about road rage being a factor, but this hasn’t been confirmed. Police say the two drivers began accelerating rapidly and refused to allow each other to pass. Kelly’s car began to spin, he lost control and the cars crashed.
The investigation into the event continues, with toxicology reports pending.
Albertson and Kelly were to be married in March of 2024.
