OKLAHOMA CITY, OK -DECEMBER 25: Oklahoma City Thunder owner Clay Bennett, right, speaks to Chesapeake Energy CEO Aubrey McClendon during the NBA season opening game December 25, 2011 at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Oklahoma City defeated Orlando 97-89. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images)
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Police have confirmed sad news for the Oklahoma City Thunder and the city’s community in general — part Thunder owner and former Chesapeake CEO Aubrey McClendon was killed in a car accident on Wednesday morning.

According to the police, McClendon was the driver of a vehicle that hit a bridge underpass and was killed. Police indicated in a press conference that the vehicle in question was going well over the posted speed limit and that speed appears to be a contributing factor to the crash.

Police spokesman, Capt. Paco Balderrama, said McClendon’s vehicle drove straight on in to the underpass wall and was killed instantly before the vehicle eventually caught fire.

It is unknown for sure the motive or cause for the speed, but McClendon was indicted on Tuesday for conspiring to rig bids for the purchase of oil and natural gas leases in northwest Oklahoma.

McClendon did refute the charges in a statement released on Tuesday:

“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

At the time of this writing the Thunder have not released word on any plans to memorialize their owner or made any other statement on McClendon’s passing.

[KFOR]

About Andrew Coppens

Andy is a contributor to The Comeback as well as Publisher of Big Ten site talking10. He also is a member of the FWAA and has been covering college sports since 2011. Andy is an avid soccer fan and runs the Celtic FC site The Celtic Bhoys. If he's not writing about sports, you can find him enjoying them in front of the TV with a good beer!

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