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Former Nascar driver Clint Bowyer hit and killed a 47-year-old woman walking on the highway ramp in Missouri.
Bowyer, 43, hit Mary Jane Simmons, of Camdenton, while driving westbound on US 54 near Missouri Highway 242 when it was ‘almost dark’ around 9pm on June 5.
Bowyer will not be charged for the accident and Ozark Police Chief Gary Launderville told DailyMail.com on Friday that it was ‘absolutely not’ intentional, as there was no skid marks prior to the collision.
Simmons was a walking on a ‘grassy area’ in-between the highway and ramp when she ‘step out into the road,’ Launderville told DailyMail.com. It is unclear why she was there.
Bowyer hit the woman roughly 100 feet off the highway and was estimated to be driving ‘pretty much’ at highway speeds, which is 65mph on US 54.
According to a diagram released in the police report, shows that Simmons was hit in the middle of the road and her body was launched 266 feet, landing in a ‘wet, grassy ditch’ on the opposite side of the road than she came from.
After realizing what had happened, Bowyer hit the brakes, stopping just feet away from her body, and called 911. When paramedics arrived on the scene, they were unable to revive her and Simmons was pronounced dead.
Clint Bowyer, 43, (pictured) reportedly hit and killed Mary Jane Simmons, 47, of Camdenton, while driving from the ASCAR Cup Series race at World Wide Technology Raceway outside St. Louis
She was reportedly high on drugs and was walking on the onramp when she was hit
He hit her going at around 65mph, launching her body 266 feet across the road (pictured)
He hit her on US 54 on the ramp (pictured) to Missouri Highway 242 around 9pm on June 5
She had a ‘large amount of trauma to the belly portion of her body based on the red tint to her stomach,’ police reported.
The crash report says Bowyer showed no signs of impairment and provided a roadside blood sample that showed no trace of alcohol.
Police believe Simmons was high on drugs when she was walking along the highway at night and found crystalline substance, believed to be meth, amongst her belongings, the police report said.
Bowyer’s vehicle sustained significant damage to the front-end damage to the driver’s side and windshield in the crash, according to Fox 4.
The former racecar driver, of Emporia, Kansas, was reportedly driving back from working as a broadcaster in the ASCAR Cup Series race at World Wide Technology Raceway outside St. Louis.
He was noticeably absent from Sunday’s event at Sonoma Raceway in California and Fox Sports reported he was dealing with a ‘personal matter.’
Bowyer told Fox 4 that his ‘thoughts and prayers’ are with the victim’s family.
Her son Levi Hartwell confirmed her death on Facebook, writing that he was ‘devastated and heartbroken’ by the loss of his mother
Simmons (pictured with her son Levi) was found with a crystalline substance, which authorities believe was meth, amongst her belongings
It is unclear why Simmons (pictured with her son) was on the ramp at night or what part of the road she was walking on
He said: ‘Anyone that knows me, knows that family is everything to me. My thoughts and prayers are with the family and loved ones of Ms. Simmons. This is a very difficult time for my family and I, please respect our privacy as we move forward.’
Simmon’s son Levi Hartwell, 30, wrote a touching tribute to his mother on Facebook, writing: ‘I am so devastated and heartbroken right now. I know [you] had a lot of goals [you were] planning on doing, which I was so happy for you. I’m going to miss you so, so very much.
‘Fly high with the angels. Will never forget you and will always [keep] you in our hearts.’
DailyMail.com has reached out to the family for comment.
Bowyer retired from racing in 2020 after winning 10 Cup Series. He raced from 2006 to 2020 and has since become a commentator for Fox Sports.
Bowyer retired from racing in 2020 after winning 10 Cup Series. He raced from 2006 to 2020 and has since become a commentator for Fox Sports
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