UTICA, N.Y. (AP) - Tony Stewart and the parents of Kevin Ward Jr. have agreed to settle a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family against the former NASCAR star for his role in the death of their son.
Minor stipulations remain to be settled and details of the agreement were not divulged at Thursday's hearing in federal court before Judge David Hurd. A jury trial had been set to begin May 7.
Hurd said the case would be dismissed once procedures regarding the estate of the victim were finalized. Stewart declined comment afterward, as did the Wards.
The 20-year-old Ward was killed Aug. 9, 2014, during a sprint car race on dirt at Canandaigua Motorsports Park in western New York.
Ward spun and crashed after contact with Stewart's car. He climbed out while the race was under caution and began walking down the dimly lit track in an apparent attempt to confront Stewart. One car appeared to swerve to avoid Ward, but he was struck by the back right tire of Stewart's car and died of blunt force trauma.
The 46-year-old Stewart spent weeks in seclusion afterward. He retired after the 2016 season.