Aubrey McClendon, co-owner of the Oklahoma City Thunder basketball franchise, died early this morning by way of a single-car accident. McClendon crashed the car he was driving into an Oklahoma City bridge around 9 a.m. this morning, and was pronounced dead at the scene.
McClendon was also the founder of American Energy Partners and the co-owner of the Chesapeake Energy Corporation, but he’d landed in some recent hot water. Just last night, he was indicted on conspiracy charges stemming from an oil and gas scheme; previously he’d denied any wrongdoing regarding the allegations. According to TMZ, authorities have indicated that it doesn’t appear McClendon made any attempt to stop the speeding vehicle, and suicide isn’t being ruled out. This troubling news comes just weeks after Thunder assistant coach Monty Williams‘ wife, Ingrid Williams, died in a tragic car accident in Oklahoma City.
McClendon was 56.