An arrest warrant has been issued for Michael Dale Kellison after he failed to appear in court Tuesday in Randolph County, North Carolina, for charges related to his Dec. 17 crash with Chris Osborne, spotter for Matt Kenseth and Daniel Suarez, near Sophia, North Carolina.
N.C. Highway Patrol cited Kellison with driving while impaired, careless and reckless driving, and having an open container in his vehicle after his car crossed the center line and slammed into Osborne’s car, injuring Osborne, his wife and son. Kellison’s car was traveling an estimated 60 mph in a 45 mph zone.
Kellison’s license had included a restriction that he not drive with any alcohol in his system because of a DWI conviction in 2008. He previously failed to show for a court appearance in January and an arrest warrant was issued then.
Osborne suffered a compound fracture of his right leg that required nearly 25 screws from his kneecap to his ankle. He missed the first five races of the season before returning at Martinsville Speedway. His wife, Melissa, was thrown from the back seat of the family’s car to the front. She suffered nine broken ribs and broke her right hip, shoulder and elbow. Osborne’s son, Austin, suffered a partially collapsed lung, cracked sternum, concussion, broken nose and lost a few teeth.