Race automotive driver Ashlea Albertson was on observe to compete at a championship occasion in Indiana on Saturday. Just a few months later, she would make her means down the aisle at her marriage ceremony.
But as an alternative, the 24-year-old’s life was reduce quick on Friday morning in an obvious street rage crash away from the observe.
Albertson, who drove for the Tony Stewart Racing workforce, was a passenger in a 2018 GMC Terrain that crashed at round 11.30am on I-65 in Jackson County simply south of Seymour, Indiana.
The SUV, which was being pushed by her fiancé Jake Kelly, 31, crashed after a 2016 Chevrolet Malibu pulled up in the correct lane and each autos started accelerating, every refusing to let the opposite go, in response to the Indiana State Police.
The two autos collided, inflicting the SUV to flip over, ejecting Albertson. She was flown to the University of Louisville Hospital the place she died from her accidents.
The subsequent day, the rising star’s No 4 race automotive sat empty on the All Star Circuit of Champions TQ Midgets occasion in Shelbyville, Indiana, however was surrounded by flowers and messages left by her family members and followers.
It was her household’s want for the race to go on as deliberate on the Shelby County Fairgrounds, along with her father Todd Albertson telling the native Indianapolis station WTHR, “We have to do better.”
“She lost her life not on a race track, where we thought she might, but in the middle of a highway because we can’t control our anger,” Mr Albertson mentioned.
Albertson was to be married her fiancé Jake Kelly in March of subsequent 12 months
(Twitter/@AshDogRacing )
Famed race automotive driver Tony Stewart, who’s now semi-retired, described Albertson as having an “infectious personality” and the power to “light up a room.”
“She was a great race car driver that was involved in a road rage accident and lost her life,” Stewart wrote in a social media put up.
“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.”
Loved ones mentioned Albertson was “fearless on and off the race track” and that she was “exceptional in a male-dominated sport.”
Albertson, who was fourth within the All Star Circuit of Champions standings out of 39 listed drivers going into final weekend’s race, would have been the one feminine driver on the observe that evening, her coach Ron Combs mentioned.
Mr Combs, who can also be an All Star Circuit of Champions official, instructed native information that her automotive gained’t be raced any extra this 12 months, however added that he hopes to see one other lady along with her dream get behind the wheel sometime.
“I’m going to think about Ashlea every time I think I’m going to have road rage,” Mr Combs added. “Ashlea will be in the back of my head. Stop, slow down, and do what’s right.”
A spokesman for the Indiana State Police instructed The Washington Post he would “hesitate” to make use of the phrase “road rage,” then added that “the evidence indicates that both drivers involved in the incident displayed some aggressive driving that appeared to contribute to the crash.”
Video recorded by an occupant in one other automobile confirmed that Mr Kelly, the motive force of the SUV, and the motive force of the Malibu, 22-year-old Austin Cooper, started accelerating quickly and refused to permit the opposite go on the two-lane street, state police mentioned.
The Malibu abruptly modified lanes proper into the SUV’s path and the 2 autos collided, inflicting it to crash. Both drivers submitted to blood assessments and toxicology outcomes are pending, state police mentioned.
Albertson was to be married to Jake Kelly in March, in response to her obituary.
“The wedding dress was purchased and their children’s names had been chosen,” it said. “The impact Ashlea made on those she came in contact with was strong and deep.”
Albertson was described by her family members as ‘fearless on and off the race track’ and ‘exceptional in a male-dominated sport’
(Ashlea Albertson Racing/Facebook)
Albertson had been a aggressive race automotive driver since 2011 and landed the All-Star Circuit of Champions TQ Midget collection in 2017. She had a number of characteristic wins and lots of podium finishes, whereas driving for Tony Stewart Racing.
“The race track was clearly her favorite place to be,” the obit said.
Following her passing, Albertson’s father posted an emotional video on Facebook.
“This is one of the hardest posts that I could possibly make, but I have no words to put it out other than making a video to share with everybody who loved her and that she loved in return,” he mentioned tearfully. “I want to thank you from my family, from 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. I’m sorry to inform you this way, but it’s only fair that everybody knows and there be no speculation moving forward.
“She was a good kid, a better person. She just loved racing, she loved the community and you all have done so much for her. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. Please keep my family, her fiancé, and everybody that is going through this time in your thoughts and prayers.
“Those of you who go to the track this weekend and enjoy racing, please know that’s all she ever wanted to do was put on a show … and be loved and respected by each and everyone of you that followed her. … Enjoy life and every moment that it is. It’s precious. We never know when our time is.”
A Celebration of Life Service will likely be held on Sunday at New Palestine United Methodist Church, in New Palestine, Indiana. Attendees are inspired to put on racing shirts and cheery clothes, as Alberston would like, in response to her obit.