Officers from the Indiana State Police-Versailles Post began investigating a sad two-vehicle crash that occurred on I-65 Northbound just south of Seymour in Jackson County.
Ashlea Albertson, a native of Indianapolis, IL, and a graduate of Franklin Central High School who worked for Heat & Frost Insulators Local 18, was identified as the victim.
The news shook her family and the Racing community. The circumstances surrounding the tragedy are still under investigation. Let’s take a closer look at what happened to Ashlea Albertson and the I-65 collision in this post.
Ashlea Albertson young racer passed away
It is with deep sadness that we share Ashlea Albertson passed away early today after being involved in a traffic accident. Ashlea Albertson, 24, lost her life in a car accident that also critically injured her fiance.
According to her parents, the couple was returning from Gulf Shores when the fatal collision occurred on Interstate 65. Authorities claim that after losing control of the vehicle and crashing, Ashlea was ejected from it and died at the scene.
When emergency responders arrived, they couldn’t revive her since she had no pulse. Jake has wounds and bruises and was also transferred by helicopter. On March 23, Ash and Jake were scheduled to wed. She was usually happy and had time for her followers.
She never failed to make people smile and always enjoyed seeing the young children at the track and having them ride in the car. Many people will miss Ashlea, and we will make sure that we remember her at the track!
Read Ashlea’s family statement following this tragedy,
We are devastated to share the news that our 24-year-old daughter, Ashlea, passed away today from injuries sustained in a car accident. She and her fiance Jake were coming home from Gulf Shores when it occurred on i-65, they were both ejected and she was a lifeline to U of Louisville. We are so grateful to still have Jake. We thank everyone who knew and loved Ashlea and made an impact on her life. Please share stories and memories. I will post updates and arrangements when we know.
Who was Ashlea Albertson?
Ashlea Albertson, a driven Indiana racer, created an enduring impression on the local racing scene with her daring pursuit of speed and passion for motorsports.
One such person was Ashlea Albertson. Despite having a relatively brief career, Albertson’s tenacity, talent, and love of racing made her a beloved figure among racing fans.
Ashlea Albertson, who was born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana, has always been fascinated with speed and excitement.
She was introduced to the appeal of racing at a young age because she grew up close to the renowned Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Her father, who was also an amateur racer, was instrumental in fostering her passion for the activity.
Albertson has never finished outside of the top 10 in her 11 years of racing, said her dad and crew chief, Todd Albertson.
Her dream is to become a professional driver, competing year-round for substantial prizes that can add up to hundreds of thousands of dollars a year.
Albertson attributes the success of young women in the sport to the female drivers who came before her, including Lyn St. James and Simona De Silvestro, the sole female competitor in Sunday’s Indianapolis 500.
Albertson fell in love with racing at the age of 10, the first time she ever climbed behind the wheel. Her dad remembers the huge smile on his daughter’s face that day. “She got behind the wheel and just took off. It was one of the coolest things I’d ever experienced,” he said. He knew she was hooked, and so was he.
Ashlea About Her Passion
I am a female race car driver that started racing at age ten. Female auto racing has evolved over the years, but there is still a long way to go, as the sport remains male-dominated.
As time passed and my passion grew, I needed assistance in chasing my dreams. I have created a platform to promote young females in order to establish themselves as competitors in any field they desire.
In order to grow our customer base, I use Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, and have 1,666 followers on Facebook.
Marketing is a large part of the auto racing industry, and with bigger marketing campaigns, my outreach to supporters can propel my business and grow my partners.
Albertson loves to share that passion with others, especially the young kids who line up to greet her after a race. “Little girls’ faces light up when they see me. A lot of them say, ‘I want to do this,’” Albertson said.
“I want to say to them, ‘Don’t let someone else tell you you can’t do it,’” she said. “I’ve been told so many times I couldn’t do it, and here I am.”
Ashlea & Jacob’s story
You can read the couple’s love story on the wedding website for Ashlea Albertson and Jacob Kelly, where the wedding was scheduled for March 23.
We met through Jakes cousin and my best friend on May 30, 2021. The first time we met was Memorial Day weekend out at the lake. Jake asked me out on July 5, 2021. We dated for a year and half, then on December 17, 2022 he popped the question. The wedding is planned for March 24, 2024. We can’t wait till that moment arrives ❤️
Todd, her father, uploaded a tearful video on Facebook about her passing.
He said, “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 who she loved in return”.
“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. “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 who is going through this time in your thoughts and prayers.”
I-65 crash: Crash details explained
In a Friday morning collision in eastern Jackson County, a Greenfield lady who was a passenger in an SUV traveling along a remote section of I-65 perished, according to a state police news release.
24-year-old Ashlea Albertson passed away in Louisville, Kentucky, at the UofL Hospital. The Indianapolis-based Circle City Raceway announced on social media that Albertson was a regular at the dirt track and would be mourned by her racing friends and family.
Around 11:30 a.m. on Friday, Indiana State Police officers were called to the scene of an SUV and a car collision about 3 miles north of the State Road 250 exit for Uniontown. South of Seymour is that.
Investigators believe that Austin Cooper, 22, of Austin, who was operating the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu, was traveling north in the right lane while Jacob Kelly, 31, of Indianapolis, who was operating the white 2018 GMC Terrain, was traveling north in the left lane.
The two drivers “began to accelerate rapidly and refused to allow the other vehicle to pass,” the release claimed, citing evidence from the incident and video footage shot by another vehicle.
Kelly lost control of the SUV when the car started to switch lanes directly in front of it. The SUV rolled after the two cars collided in the center of the northbound lanes, and Albertson was thrown.
The car drove off the east side of the highway and came to a stop in a field. For medical attention, Kelly and Albertson were airlifted to a facility in Louisville. It was thought that Kelly’s wounds weren’t life-threatening.
Cooper and a young passenger—whom the press announcement did not name—were transferred to Schneck Medical Centre in Seymour for treatment of non-life-threatening wounds.
According to the announcement, both drivers consented to blood testing, and toxicology reports were still pending. The press announcement made no mention of any arrests. For almost three hours, northbound I-65 was stopped for the crash investigation and cleaning.
The racing community mourns Ashlea’s loss
Tony Stewart, a three-time NASCAR Cup Series winner, expressed his sorrow at Ashlea Albertson’s passing. As he expressed his grief over Albertson’s passing on social media, Stewart referred to her as a teammate.
PRN’s At the Track wrote,
Our hearts are broken by the news that our June guest, Ashlea Albertson, has passed due to her injuries from a highway collision earlier today.
Kaycie Chittum wrote,
My heart goes out to her family, friends, and the racing community that she left behind. No words can describe the immense sadness that is certainly felt. Ashlea Albertson rest easy my friend.
Jessica Hooten wrote,
There’s not enough time… slow down.. be present.. spend time with your loved ones.. make memories.. be kind. I’m so glad to have been able to be a part of your family Ashlea Albertson.
We should pray for her family and friends as they navigate this road to recovery together. Please feel free to drop condolences to Ashlea Albertson by leaving a note in the comments section below.
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Lavanya (Senior Editor) is a full-time content writer with almost 5 years of experience and a part-time teacher. She joined Medico Topics on the Breaking News trainee scheme in 2022 and now works on MedicoTopics.com. As a lifelong learner, She is constantly curious about learning new things and passionate about sharing knowledge with people through her writing and teaching.