Stunned: Former Chesapeake CEO Aubrey McClendon Dies in Car Crash

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AubreyMcClendon.jpgWe are still stunned at the news–news you’ve likely already heard elsewhere. Yesterday morning Aubrey McClendon, 56 years old and the sole person in his SUV, was traveling along a 2-lane road in/near Oklahoma City when he crashed into a bridge foundation/embankment while moving at “a high rate of speed.” He was killed in the crash. Yesterday afternoon MDN editor Jim Willis received a call from reporter friend Bob Downing from the Akron (OH) Beacon Journal to ask for a response to the news. “What news?” Jim asked. And Bob told him. The accident is still being investigated, but the guy in charge of investigating it, without prejudging what he will find, has already pronounced it pretty cut and dried. We find it hard (nearly impossible) to believe, but most people, including the investigator, seem to believe it was a suicide, perhaps because the day before Aubrey was indicted by the U.S. Dept. of Justice (see Aubrey McClendon Indicted by DOJ for Conspiracy in Bid Rigging). Aubrey was traveling at 50+ mph and was not wearing a seat belt when his SUV hit the bridge embankment–without applying the brakes. He could have fallen asleep. He could have been distracted. Or it may have been intentional. The investigator said Aubrey had plenty of time to correct course and not hit the embankment. Below we have the details as we know them, along with reaction from a number of people and organizations. We join others in saying our thoughts and prayers go out to Aubrey’s wife and three adult children…

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