A medical examiner’s report and an Oklahoma City Police investigation determined energy tycoon Aubrey McClendon’s fatal crash in March was an accident and not suicide, as believed.
McClendon was former CEO of Chesapeake Energy in Oklahoma City and built the popular Pops restaurant and convenience store on Route 66 in nearby Arcadia, Oklahoma.
McClendon died in a fiery one-vehicle crash March 2, a day after he’d been federally indicated on conspiracy of bid-rigging of oil and gas leases.
The Oklahoman newspaper and Wall Street Journal published stories on the investigation and report last week. Among the findings:
- No drugs or alcohol were found in McClendon’s system. One test found possible traces of an antihistamine typically used for colds or allergies, but it wasn’t confirmed.
- McClendon was driving as fast as 89 miles per hour before the crash and 78 mph at impact. McClendon, however, was known for driving fast.
- McClendon wasn’t wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. Friends, however, said he typically didn’t wear one.
- Friends said McClendon often drove while talking, texting or emailing on his smartphone, leading one to believe he’d might have been distracted just before the crash.
- The area where McClendon crashed was known to police as a hazardous spot for motorists. Another driver died in a similar crash there last month.
- McClendon’s friends said they found no signs of trouble before he died — no suicide note or dispirited emails. In fact, a friend told police McClendon was on his way to meet him at Pops for breakfast that morning.
- McClendon was known to work long hours, which was why friend Rand Elliott — the architect for Pops — told the Journal he believed McClendon fell asleep behind the wheel. Another said he surmised McClendon abruptly suffered some sort of medical problem.
Pops opened in 2007 as a convenience store, souvenir shop and restaurant known for its 66-foot-tall, LED soda bottle and more than 500 flavors of soda. Route 66 author Michael Wallis was consulted about its Route 66 aesthetics.
In addition to a second Pops site in the Nichols Hills area of Oklahoma City, McClendon was an investor in other restaurants in OKC’s Route 66, including several in the historic Will Rogers Theatre (on the Western Avenue alignment), Irma’s Burger Shack (on the Classen Drive alignment), Deep Fork Grill (on Western), Republic Gastropub (on Classen) and The Drake (on Northwest 23rd).
McClendon also was part owner of the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder.
(Image of Aubrey McClendon via Wikimedia Commons)
