http://kfor.com/2016/03/02/police-former-ceo-of-chesapeake-aubrey-m...

OKLAHOMA CITY – Police officers confirm that a man killed in a car wreck early Wednesday morning is the former CEO of Chesapeake Aubrey McClendon

On Wednesday, firefighters were called to a car wreck on Midwest Blvd., between Memorial and 122nd St.

Officials say one person died at the scene when the vehicle hit a bridge in the area.

Photo from Midwest Blvd. accident

Photo from Midwest Blvd. accident

On Wednesday afternoon, KFOR learned that the driver of that vehicle was Aubrey McClendon, the former CEO of Chesapeake.

Officials with the Oklahoma City Police Department held a news conference on Wednesday afternoon, confirming the fatality is McClendon.

Capt.  Paco Balderrama says police are still investigating the crash, but added that he was traveling at a “high rate of speed,” well over the posted speed limit.

fatal crash

Balderrama says McClendon died instantly from the crash. After that, the 2013 Chevy Tahoe caught fire.

“He pretty much drove straight into the wall,” Balderrama said. “The information out there at the scene is that he went left of center, went through a grassy area right before colliding into the embankment. There was plenty of opportunity for him to correct and get back on the roadway and that didn’t occur.”

The accident occurred less than 24 hours after McClendon was indicted by a federal grand jury.

On Tuesday, the Department of Justice announced that Aubrey McClendon was charged with conspiring to rig bids for the purchase of oil and natural gas leases in northwest Oklahoma.

The indictment claims that McClendon orchestrated a conspiracy between two large oil and gas companies to not bid against each other for oil and natural gas leases in northwest Oklahoma.

The conspiracy allegedly ran from December 2007 to March 2012, during which time he was CEO of Chesapeake Energy.

McClendon released the following statement on Tuesday, regarding the indictment:

“The charge that has been filed against me today is wrong and unprecedented. I have been singled out as the only person in the oil and gas industry in over 110 years since the Sherman Act became law to have been accused of this crime in relation to joint bidding on leasehold.  Anyone who knows me, my business record and the industry in which I have worked for 35 years, knows that I could not be guilty of violating any antitrust laws.  All my life I have worked to create jobs in Oklahoma, grow its economy, and to provide abundant and affordable energy to all Americans. I am proud of my track record in this industry, and I will fight to prove my innocence and to clear my name.” – Aubrey McClendon

Aubrey McClendon

Aubrey McClendon

McClendon, 56, retired from Chesapeake in 2013 and became the CEO of American Energy Partners.

“It is with deep sadness that AELP confirms that earlier today, its founder, Aubrey K. McClendon died in a car accident on Midwest Boulevard in Oklahoma City. Aubrey’s tremendous leadership, vision, and passion for the energy industry had an impact on the community, the country, and the world. We are tremendously proud of his legacy and will continue to work hard to live up to the unmatched standards he set for excellence and integrity. We will deeply mourn his loss and please join us in expressing our condolences to his family,” a statement from American Energy Partners read.

McClendon was also a partial owner of the Oklahoma City Thunder.

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Praying for the family and friends of Mr. McClendon. May the peace of God which passes all understanding, overwhelm and overflow each of them until that day they are forever reunited with him.

Very sad. The article says he was just indicted by a federal grand jury. From the officer's description of the single car crash it may be either suicide, or perhaps texting while driving. He was driving very fast. At least no other cars were involved. More may come out later.

Love him or hate him, it's likely this message board and the whole Haynesville Shale boom would not have happened without Aubrey.

Anyone remember is now infamous boast that thirty thousand dollars an acre for a lease was "chump change? In hindsight it was a sign of a classic market top. (it was 30 grand an acre, right?)

RIP - but I also feel sorry for all the investors, employees, workers etc ....

Very true reflections. 

No doubt there are mixed feelings, but sadness for the whole situation is prevailing.

Early on Aubrey was a very effective spokesman for the industry. As the controversies and questionable tactics mounted the industry lost that voice. 

i currently have significant issues with Chesapeake, but to the point made by Ms. Stephens, Aubrey McClendon created more millionaires, paid for more new houses, more vacations, more new cars, trucks, and SUVs in NW Louisiana than anyone else in the last 50 years. doesn't matter if you leased to Petrohawk, EOG, encana, etc., landowners or mineral owners benefitted greatly from Aubrey's priming the pump and his direct involvement in the leasing of the Haynesville Shale area.

Takes two to tango.  In the Haynesville, Aubrey had Floyd.  They share the credit for the inflated bonus payments that benefited the mineral owners and ultimately caused years of headaches for operating companies, large and small.  Ask the small independents operating in NW LA about "Haynesville money".

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