The father of dirt race driver Ashlea Albertson posted a heartbreaking video mourning the death of his daughter after an apparent road rage incident last week in Indiana.
Albertson, 24, a dirt race driver with Tony Stewart Racing, was killed when she was thrown from a vehicle in a crash that occurred on the I-65 in Jackson County on Friday.
Albertson’s father, Todd, announced his daughter’s death on Facebook in an emotional video addressed to the racing community.
‘She was a good kid, a better person and she just loved racing,’ he said in the video.
‘She loved the community and you all have done so much for her. Thank you from the bottom of my heart,’ he added while becoming visibly emotional.
The father of dirt race driver Ashlea Albertson posted a heartbreaking video mourning the death of his daughter after an apparent road rage incident last week in Indiana
Ashlea Albertson, 24, a dirt race driver with Tony Stewart Racing, was killed when she was thrown from a vehicle in a crash that occured on the I-65 in Jackson County on Friday
The accident took place in Jackson County, Indiana, at around 11:30 am on Friday, according to the Indiana State Police
‘This is one of the hardest posts that I could possibly make and I have no words to put it out other than to make it a video to share with everyone who loved her and who she loved in return.’
‘I want to thank you for my family, for myself, for making her feel like she was the best racer out there each and every time that she took the track.’
‘We appreciate you, we love you and I’m sorry to inform you this way but I think it’s only fair that everybody knows and there be no speculations going forward.’
‘For those of you guys who go to the track this weekend and enjoy racing, please know that that’s all she ever wanted to do – put on a show, be entertaining, and be loved and respected by each and every one of you that followed her,’ he said on Monday.
Albertson was sitting passenger with her boyfriend Jacob Kelly, 31, as they returned home to Greenfield, Indiana after a vacation.
The accident took place in Jackson County, Indiana, at around 11:30 am on Friday, according to the Indiana State Police.
Video recorded by a witness in another vehicle helped the authorities determine that the crash involved 22-year-old Austin Cooper, in a 2016 Chevrolet Malibu with a child passenger, and Kelly, in a 2018 GMC Terrain with Albertson.
Video recorded by a witness in another vehicle helped the authorities determine that the crash involved 22-year-old Austin Cooper, in a 2016 Chevrolet Malibu with a child passenger, and Kelly, in a 2018 GMC Terrain with Albertson
The vehicles collided into one another after ‘accelerating rapidly and refus[ing] to allow the other vehicle to pass’ in an alleged road rage incident.
Tony Stewart, a three-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion and team owner, confirmed Albertson’s death, claiming she had been involved in a road rage accident in Indiana.
‘Today, I lost a teammate. @AshDogRacing had an infectious personality and could light up any room,’ Stewart posted Friday night.
‘She was a great race car driver that was involved in a road rage accident and lost her life. In the past, I’ve also gotten caught up in road rage. I hope that we can honor Ashlea by controlling what we can control on the highway. Losing her is a sobering reminder of how precious life is. Please join me in keeping her family and friends in your prayers.’
She was reportedly a passenger in a GMC Terrain driven by a 31-year-old male at the time of the incident, according to WTHR.
The 24-year-old was reportedly a passenger at the time of the two-vehicle incident
‘She was a good kid, a better person and she just loved racing,’ her father said in the video
Albertson, who raced TQ Midget cars, reportedly died of her injuries at hospital
Albertson was sitting passenger with her boyfriend Jacob Kelly, 31, as they returned home to Greenfield, Indiana after a vacation
A 22-year-old male was driving a black Malibu and both vehicles sped up, refusing to let the other pass.
The Malibu reportedly veered into the same lane as the Terrain, causing it to lose control and collide with the other vehicle. As the Terrain rolled over, Albertson was thrown from the vehicle.
Albertson and the driver of the Terrain were flown to University of Louisville Hospital for treatment but she was pronounced dead after arriving at the hospital.
Albertson died of the injuries she sustained in the crash.
The driver of the Malibu as well as a juvenile passenger in the vehicle, were treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
‘Kelly and Albertson were both flown from the scene to University of Louisville Hospital for treatment,’ police said.
‘After arriving at the hospital, Albertson was pronounced deceased. Kelly was being treated for non-life-threatening injuries,’ they added.
‘Cooper and a juvenile passenger were transported to Schneck Medical Center in Seymour, Indiana where they were both treated for non-life-threatening injuries.’
An investigation, including toxicology tests on both drivers, is ongoing before the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office will determine whether charges should be filed.
Both male drivers submitted to blood draws and toxicology reports are pending at this time, cops said to Law & Crime.
If the drivers were found to be intoxicated at the time of the crash, charges can be as serious as ‘operating a vehicle while intoxicated causing death’ and ‘operating a vehicle while intoxicated causing serious bodily injury.’
If intoxication is not found to be a factor in this case, Indiana prosecutors might consider reckless homicide or criminal recklessness as a charge, according to Law & Crime.
Lesser misdemeanor charges are also a possibility, such as reckless driving or aggressive driving.
Albertson raced TQ Midget cars and her last race came on August 11.
‘Every race day she would call me and say have you had your coffee today dad? It’s race day. I didn’t get that call today but I did get that coffee and tell everybody else it’s race day,’ Ashlea’s father, Todd Albertson, said Saturday, according to WHTR.
‘Society we have to do better. We have to do better taking care of each other. She lost her life not on a racetrack where we thought she might, but in the middle of a highway because we can’t control our anger.
‘She’s a daughter. She’s a sister and she’s friends with everybody here.’