Racing driver Ashlea Albertson dies in “road rage accident”

Ashlea Albertson killed in tragic crash

24-year-old race car driver, Ashlea Albertson, was killed as she returned to her hometown of Greenfield, Indiana.

Image credit: @ashdog_racing Instagram

Fiancé driving the car

Albertson’s 31-year-old fiancé, Jacob Kelly, was driving the car before losing control, leading to Albertson being thrown from the vehicle.

Image credit: @ashdog_racing Instagram

Road rage

Reports suggest Kelly was caught in a road rage tussle with another car whilst driving on the I-65 highway. Austin Cooper, 22, was the other driver involved, driving a 2016 Chevrolet Malibu.

Image credit: @ashdog_racing Instagram

Both cars accelerating

According to reports by The Daily Mail, video footage of the incident shows both cars “accelerating rapidly” as they jostled for position on the highway.

Image credit: @ashdog_racing Instagram

Police statement

According to Indiana State Police, “Evidence from the scene, including video footage captured by another vehicle, indicated that the two drivers began accelerating rapidly and refused to allow the other vehicle to pass”.

Image credit: @ashdog_racing Instagram

Continued

The statement from Indiana State Police continues, “Cooper’s vehicle then began to change lanes into the path of Kelly’s vehicle. Jacob Kelly lost control of his vehicle and spun, which resulted in the two vehicles colliding in the middle of the northbound lanes.”

Image credit: @ashdog_racing Instagram

Cars collided

Whilst traveling at extreme speeds down the highway, both cars collided, forcing Kelly and Albertson’s 2018 GMC Terrain off the road. This caused the car to flip, throwing Albertson from the car.

Image credit: @ashdog_racing Instagram

Kelly sustained injuries

Jacob Kelly also sustained injuries in the crash, as he was airlifted from the scene. His injuries are reported to be non-life threatening.

Image credit: @ashdog_racing Instagram

Albertson pronounced dead

Ashlea Albertson was also airlifted from the scene of the accident, arriving at the University of Louisville Hospital, where she was pronounced dead upon arrival.

Image credit: @ashdog_racing Instagram

Austin Cooper also treated for injuries

Austin Cooper, the other driver involved, was also treated for injuries alongside his passenger, who is an unnamed minor.

Image credit: @ashdog_racing Instagram

Tony Stewart racer

Albertson is a member of the Tony Stewart Racing team. Stewart retired from NASCAR racing in 2016.

Image credit: @ashdog_racing Instagram

Stewart released a statement

In a Facebook post, Stewart stated, “Today, I lost a teammate. @AshDogRacing (Albertson) had an infectious personality and could light up any room”.

Image credit: @ashdog_racing Instagram

Road rage awareness

In a separate statement on X (formerly Twitter) Stewart acknowledged, “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.”

Image credit: @ashdog_racing Instagram

Father’s tribute

In an emotional video posted to Facebook, Albertson’s father, Todd, said, “This is one of the hardest posts that I could possibly make, she was a good kid, a better person and she just loved racing, she loved the community.”

Image credit: @ashdog_racing Instagram

Set to marry

Ashlea Albertson and Jacob Kelly were set to be married in March of 2024.

Image credit: @ashdog_racing Instagram