Energy mogul Aubrey McClendon died following a single-vehicle crash shortly after 9 a.m. Wednesday morning, according to Oklahoma City Police Department PIO Capt. Paco Balderrama, who spoke at a press conference Wednesday afternoon.
#breaking– Aubrey McClendon dead in crash his morning pic.twitter.com/LeoAmHwDwC
— Jordann Lucero (@JordannLucero) March 2, 2016
The “fatality accident” near I-44 and North Midwest Boulevard comes exactly one day after McClendon, 56, had been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly rigging bids for land leases in Oklahoma.
The indictment was first reported Tuesday afternoon.
OKC PD’s Paco Balderrama says speed was most definitely a factor in Aubrey McClendon’s fatality. “Pretty much drove straight into the wall.”
— Erik Horne (@ErikHorneOK) March 2, 2016
Police say McClendon went left of center and through a grassy area before slamming into a wall.
— Phil Cross (@philsnews) March 2, 2016
Police say McClendon was going well above posted speed limit.
— Phil Cross (@philsnews) March 2, 2016
Police say McClendon’s vehicle caught fire immediately after the crash and it took some time to extricate him from the wreckage
— Phil Cross (@philsnews) March 2, 2016
Police say they are unable to determine at this time if he was wearing his seatbelt.
— Phil Cross (@philsnews) March 2, 2016
Police say they will try to use the onboard computer from McClendon’s vehicle to help determine what caused crash
— Phil Cross (@philsnews) March 2, 2016
Following Wednesday afternoon’s press conference, OKC Mayor Mick Cornett, who was out of the country, and officials from McClendon’s American Energy Partners issued statements regarding news of the CEO’s death.
Soon, others took to Twitter to express their condolences.
Aubrey McClendon was a major contributor to OKC & OK, from the Thunder to the river & countless things in between. Pray for his family.
— Senator David Holt (@davidfholt) March 2, 2016
My thoughts go out to the family of Aubrey McClendon. He was a visionary and taught so much here on @MadMoneyOnCNBC
— Jim Cramer (@jimcramer) March 2, 2016
A co-founder of Chesapeake Energy Corporation, McClendon was forced out of his position with the company in 2013, resigning on April 1.
McClendon was a minority owner of the Oklahoma City Thunder.
