Chicago Billionaire James Crown Dies In Racetrack Crash

A prominent Chicago billionaire died in a car crash Sunday at a racetrack in Colorado, officials said, Emily Mae Czachor reported for CBS News.

Photo Insert: Crown, who owned the Aspen Skiing Company, among other business ventures, was 70 years old at the time of his death.

James Crown, a businessman and philanthropist who was part of Chicago's wealthy Crown family, suffered blunt force trauma after hitting an impact barrier at Aspen Motorsports Park in Woody Creek, the Pitkin County Coroner's Office said in a news release.

A final cause of death for Crown is still pending an investigation by the coroner's office.

Crown, who owned the Aspen Skiing Company, among other business ventures, was 70 years old at the time of his death.

The fatal crash has been ruled an accident by the coroner in Pitkin County, where Crown lived part-time in addition to Chicago. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson shared a statement with CBS Chicago in response to the news of Crown's death, telling the station that he was "devastated" when he heard about the crash.

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