Nascar driver Kevin Ward Jr has died after an opposing driver accidentally hit him during a race event in upstate New York at the weekend.

The 20-year-old lost his life during the rush to hospital after he was clipped by Tony Stewart's car midway through the event at the Empire Super Sprints series on Saturday evening.

After the pair had collided in the 14th lap, Ward got out of his crashed vehicle and gestured towards the moving cars on the track before Stewart's right rear tyre hit the youngster, who flew about 50 feet from where he was standing.

According to The Telegraph, Ontario county sheriff Philip Povero stated after the accident that no criminal charges were pending at this time while the investigation was ongoing.

A statement from Stewart said: "There aren't words to describe the sadness I feel about the accident that took the life of Kevin Ward Jr. It's a very emotional time for all involved."

The 43-year-old withdrew from Sunday night's Sprint Cup round at Watkins Glen.