Race car driver Ashlea Albertson was on track to compete at a championship event in Indiana on Saturday. A few months later, she would make her way down the aisle at her wedding. But instead, the 24-year-old’s life was cut short on Friday morning in an apparent road rage crash away from the track. Albertson, who drove for the Tony Stewart Racing team, was a passenger in a 2018 GMC Terrain that crashed at around 11.30am on I-65 in Jackson County just south of Seymour, Indiana. The SUV, which was being driven by her fiancé Jake Kelly, 31, crashed after a 2016 Chevrolet Malibu pulled up in the right lane and both vehicles began accelerating, each refusing to let the other pass, according to the Indiana State Police. The two vehicles collided, causing the SUV to flip over, ejecting Albertson. She was flown to the University of Louisville Hospital where she died from her injuries. The next day, the rising star’s No 4 race car sat empty at the All Star Circuit of Champions TQ Midgets event in Shelbyville, Indiana, but was surrounded by flowers and messages left by her loved ones and fans. It was her family’s wish for the race to go on as planned at the Shelby County Fairgrounds, with her father Todd Albertson telling the local 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 said. Famed race car driver Tony Stewart, who is now semi-retired, described Albertson as having an “infectious personality” and the ability 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 post. “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 said Albertson was “fearless on and off the race track” and that she was “exceptional in a male-dominated sport.” Albertson, who was fourth in the All Star Circuit of Champions standings out of 39 listed drivers going into last weekend’s race, would have been the only female driver on the track that night, her coach Ron Combs said. Mr Combs, who is also an All Star Circuit of Champions official, told local news that her car won’t be raced any more this year, but added that he hopes to see another woman with her dream get behind the wheel someday. “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 told The Washington Post he would “hesitate” to use 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 another vehicle showed that Mr Kelly, the driver of the SUV, and the driver of the Malibu, 22-year-old Austin Cooper, began accelerating rapidly and refused to allow the other pass on the two-lane road, state police said. The Malibu suddenly changed lanes right into the SUV’s path and the two vehicles collided, causing it to crash. Both drivers submitted to blood tests and toxicology results are pending, state police said. Albertson was to be married to Jake Kelly in March, according to her obituary. “The wedding dress was purchased and their children’s names had been chosen,” it stated. “The impact Ashlea made on those she came in contact with was strong and deep.” Albertson had been a competitive race car driver since 2011 and landed the All-Star Circuit of Champions TQ Midget series in 2017. She had several feature wins and many podium finishes, while driving for Tony Stewart Racing. “The race track was clearly her favorite place to be,” the obit stated. 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 said 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 be held on Sunday at New Palestine United Methodist Church, in New Palestine, Indiana. Attendees are encouraged to wear racing shirts and cheery clothing, as Alberston would prefer, according to her obit. Read More Tony Stewart Racing driver, 24, killed in ‘road rage’ incident on Indiana highway An Ohio school bus overturns after crash with minivan, leaving 1 child dead and 23 injured A teenager killed her boyfriend and his friend in a ‘hell on wheels’ crash. She will serve 15 years to life

Beyoncé fans have been filmed running to the stage as they were let into London's Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in preparation for her string of concerts this week. Fans could be seen attempting to run past a sea of security guards to reach the coveted barrier spot, which would give them a prime view of the singer. Social media users were quick to point out the behaviour was only one trip away from other fans being trampled, while others admired their dedication. Click here to sign up for our newsletters

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Republican delegates in North Carolina voted Saturday at their annual convention to censure Thom Tillis, the state’s senior US senator, for backing LGBT+ rights, immigration and gun violence policies. As Sen Tillis has gained influence in Congress for his willingness to work across the aisle, his record of supporting some key policies has raised concerns among some state Republicans that the senator has strayed from conservative values. Several delegates in Greensboro criticised Mr Tillis, who has held his seat in the Senate since 2015, for his work last year on the Respect For Marriage Act, which enshrined protections for same-sex and interracial marriages in federal law. Both the state and national GOP platforms oppose same-sex marriage. But Mr Tillis, who had opposed it earlier in his political career, was among the early supporters of the law who lobbied his GOP colleagues in Congress to vote in favor of it. Others criticised him for challenging former President Donald Trump’s immigration policies and for supporting a measure that provided funds for red flag laws, which allow state courts to authorize the temporary removal of firearms from people who they believe might pose a danger to themselves or others. The North Carolina senator initially opposed Mr Trump’s plan to use military construction dollars to build a wall along the nation’s southern border, but he eventually shifted his position. Tillis spokesperson Daniel Keylin defended the senator’s voting record, writing in an email to The Associated Press that he “keeps his promises and delivers results.” “He will never apologize for his work passing the largest tax cut in history, introducing legislation to secure the border and end sanctuary cities, delivering desperately-needed funding to strengthen school safety and protecting the rights of churches to worship freely based on their belief in traditional marriage,” Mr Keylin said. While the vote Saturday, which took place behind closed doors, cannot remove Mr Tillis from office, supporters said they hope it sends a firm message of dissatisfaction. A two-thirds majority of the state party’s 1,801 voting delegates was needed for the resolution to pass, party spokesperson Jeff Moore said. “We need people who are unwavering in their support for conservative ideals,” said Jim Forster, an 81-year-old delegate from Guilford. “His recent actions don’t reflect the party’s shift to the right — in fact, they’re moving in the exact wrong direction.” Several state legislators, including Sen Bobby Hanig of Currituck County, criticised the decision, saying it’s a bad idea to create more divisions within the party ahead of an election year when party unity will be paramount. “I believe that a mob mentality doesn’t do us any good,” Mr Hanig said. “Senator Tillis does a lot for North Carolina, he does a lot for the coastal communities, so why would I want to make him mad?” State Sen Jim Burgin of Harnett County said the vote to censure Mr Tillis sets a dangerous precedent and does not allow enough flexibility for individual interpretation of party values. Burgin questioned whether his own vote last month for North Carolina’s 12-week abortion ban would similarly put him at risk of being censured because it’s out of line with the Republican platform, which states that life begins at conception. “I don’t think we need to be attacking our own,” he said. “You don’t shoot your own elephants.” Read More ‘We’re here to love each other in the face of hatred:’ Colorado Springs celebrates first Pride since Club Q massacre ‘I don’t hold my husband’s hand in the street’: The sobering reality of being a queer parent Biden marks LGBTQ+ Pride Month with White House South Lawn celebration Scott rolls out dozens of South Carolina lawmakers and local leaders endorsing his presidential bid North Carolina Republicans rally around Trump after indictment Trump pledges to endorse Mark Robinson for North Carolina governor

King Charles III coronation this weekend was an entertaining occasion that sparked memes, speculation about the might of Penny Mordaunt's triceps, and criticism for the enormous cost and arrests of republican protesters. But the show was partially overshadowed by a mysterious cloaked figure who appeared during the event, which social media users compared to the grim reaper. In videos of the proceedings posted on Twitter and TikTok, a hooded figure wearing black and holding a stick is seen quickly walking past the open door of Westminster Abbey outside. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Social media users who spotted the figure immediately came up with jokes, with some saying the figure was the late Queen Elizabeth II, or the late Princess Diana, or the grim reaper and others just finding it totally baffling. But there is a simple explanation. When contacted by Newsweek, Westminster Abbey identified the figure as a verger, a member of the abbey community who assists with religious services but who is not a member of the clergy. So there is nothing scary to see here. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

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