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Racing driver Ashlea Albertson has died in an alleged road rage incident at the age of 24.
Albertson, a driver for three-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion Tony Stewart’s team, had her life cut short on Friday morning while she was a passenger in a 2018 GMC Terrain. The crash took place around 11.30am in Jackson County, just south of Seymour, Indiana in the United States ahead of her championship event on Saturday.
The SUV was reportedly being driven by her fiancé Jacob Kelly, 31, when a black 2016 Chevrolet Malibu pulled up in the right lane. Both cars sped up, refusing to let the other pass according to Indiana State Police.
The Malibu, driven by a 22-year-old, reportedly veered into the same lane as the Terrain and the two collided, causing the SUV to flip over. Albertson, who had planned to get married in a few months time, was thrown from the vehicle.
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She was flown to the University of Louisville Hospital, where police said she died of the injuries sustained in the crash. Meanwhile, Kelly and the driver of the Malibu were treated for non-life threatening injuries
Albertson’s last race came on August 11, with her team boss Stewart confirming her death on Friday night.
He posted on social media: “Today, I lost a teammate. @AshDogRacing had an infectious personality and could light up any room. 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.”
Ashlea’s family wished for the race to go on as planned at the Shelby County Fairgrounds, with her heartbroken father Todd Albertson telling local Indianapolis station WTHR: “We have to do better.”
He said on Saturday: “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.
“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.”
- Motorsport
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