Clint Bowyer Involved in Fatal Road Accident

Photo Credit to Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images for NASCAR

NASCAR

Fox Sports Broadcaster/Former Driver Clint Bowyer Strikes Missouri Pedestrian

LAKE OZARK, Mo. – Only hours after June 5’s Enjoy Illinois 300, Fox Sports NASCAR broadcaster Clint Bowyer was involved in a fatal traffic accident. The former driver struck and killed 47-year-old Mary Jane Simmons of Camdenton, Missouri.

Upon initial impact, Bowyer immediately slammed on his brakes and called 911. He assisted first responders, as Simmons was pronounced dead at the scene. Location of the incident was on a westbound U.S. 54 ramp approaching Missouri 242 at about 9 p.m. Simmons was walking on the ramp, and a substance thought to be methamphetamine was found among her belongings. She was believed to be under the influence at the time of her passing.

Bowyer did not show any signs of impairment, giving a blood alcohol content of .000. His vehicle reportedly suffered heavy damage to the front end, including the driver side windshield. In the wake of this, Bowyer was not a part of last weekend’s Fox Sports broadcast from Sonoma Raceway.

Now a part of the NASCAR On Fox broadcast team, Bowyer is a former Xfinity Series champion (2008) and a 10-time winner in the NASCAR Cup Series. The Emporia, Kansas native won Cup races for Richard Childress Racing, Michael Waltrip Racing, and Stewart-Haas Racing. Bowyer retired from full-time competition after 2020, making the transition to the television booth in 2021. Sonoma was the final race in the Fox Sports half of the 2022 season.

“Anyone that knows me, knows that family is everything to me,” Bowyer said via a statement. “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.”

Fox Sports also released the following statement on this accident. “We are deeply saddened by the news of this tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families.”