Just one day after the DOJ unveiled its had indicted Chesapeake Founder and former CEO Aubrey McClendon on federal charges of conspiring to rig bids for oil and natural gas leases, moments ago the Oklahoma Police announced that he was found dead in a car accident, when while traveling in a 2013 Chevy Tahoe at a high rate of speed he crashed while driving on a two-lane highway and was engulfed in flames.
- FORMER CHESAPEAKE CEO MCCLENDON DEAD AFTER CAR ACCIDENT: CNBC
- OKLAHOMA CITY POLICE SAY AUBREY MCCLENDON DEAD
- MCCLENDON WAS GOING FASTER THAN SPEED LIMIT: POLICE
- MCCLENDON WAS ALONE IN 2013 CHEVY TAHOE WHEN HE CRASHED
- MCCLENDON'S VEHICLE ENGULFED IN FLAMES AFTER CRASH
Oklahoma Police reveals more details on the crash in the CNBC clip below:
The police said that it responded at 9:12 am to a fatality accident involving McClendon, and that he was traveling south on Midwest Blvd., between Memorial and 122nd St..
McClendon crashed into an embankment while traveling at a "high rate of speed" in Oklahoma City on Wednesday morning, said Capt. Paco Balderrama of the Oklahoma City Police Department. McClendon's vehicle was engulfed in flame, he said.
"He pretty much drove straight into the wall," Balderrama said.
The scene of the crash:
This is all that was left of his car:
And this is the embankment into which McClendon crashed:
http://www.google.com/maps/embed
Earlier today, McClendon released the following statement regarding the DOJ indictment:
“The charge that has been filed against me today is wrong and unprecedented. I have been singled out as the only person in the oil and gas industry in over 110 years since the Sherman Act became law to have been accused of this crime in relation to joint bidding on leasehold. Anyone who knows me, my business record and the industry in which I have worked for 35 years, knows that I could not be guilty of violating any antitrust laws. All my life I have worked to create jobs in Oklahoma, grow its economy, and to provide abundant and affordable energy to all Americans. I am proud of my track record in this industry, and I will fight to prove my innocence and to clear my name.” – Aubrey McClendon
Chesapeake released the following statement on news of his death:
"Aubrey's tremendous leadership, vision, and passion for the energy industry had an impact on the community, the country, and the world. We are tremendously proud of his legacy and will continue to work hard to live up to the unmatched standards he set for excellence and integrity," the company said in a statement.
Chesapeake said in a statement that it is "deeply saddened by the news" and its "thoughts and prayers are with the McClendon family during this difficult time."
And now let the speculation begin whether this was a suicide.