Ashlea Albertson, the 24-year-old driver for Tony Stewart Racing who died in an apparent road rage accident last week, was a passenger in a vehicle driven by her fiancé, according to a Facebook post from his family.
Albertson, who raced TQ midget cars for Stewart’s team, died Friday after being ejected from an SUV during the accident on I-65 in Jackson County, Ind.
The mother of Jake Kelly, who was Albertson’s fiancé, posted on Facebook this past weekend that the couple was in a “horrible car accident” while returning from vacation.
“No words can express how very sad and shocked we all are,” the mother wrote.
“Ashlea was a beautiful soul that could light up a room with her smile and her hugs were some of the best! We are already missing her. We love you Please pray for my family and Ashlea’s during this difficult time.”
Indiana state police said Albertson was the passenger in a GMC Terrain that was involved in an apparent highway spat with a Chevy Malibu.
The two vehicles were “accelerating rapidly” to prevent each other from passing.
After the two vehicles ultimately collided, Albertson was ejected from the GMC.
Kelly suffered “many bumps and bruises,” his mother said on Facebook.
Albertson and Kelly had been planning to get married next March in Bloomington, Ind.
“She was a good kid [and] a better person,” Ashlea’s father, Todd Albertson, said in a Facebook video. “She just loved racing, she loved the community and you all have done so much for her.”
“Today, I lost a teammate. @AshDogRacing had an infectious personality and could light up any room,” Stewart tweeted 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.”
