NEWARK — Authorities are continuing their investigation today into the death of a spectator Saturday at the car show in Newark Municipal Park.

Ricke Lewis Van Riper, 55, was pronounced dead at Valley West Hospital in Sandwich, where he and his unidentified victim were transported after the two had fought at the car show.

The cause of Van Riper’s death is inconclusive, Kendall County Sheriff’s Deputy Scott Koster said today.

“We’re waiting for all the reports to come back — toxicology and such — to make a determination,” he noted. “We’re continuing to gather information from witnesses at the car show, and from the emergency medical staff to provide to the coroner’s office to assist with the determination.”

Authorities were alerted to the incident when they received 9-1-1 calls about a fight at the car show in the Newark Municipal Park on Townhouse Road just after noon Saturday.

Witnesses told deputies that Van Riper began arguing with his estranged wife after he arrived at the car show. He then poured gasoline on his truck, lit the gas, and entered the burning vehicle to retrieve several knives.

Van Riper next began throwing knives at a man, whom he then attacked with a knife. Others at the show subdued Van Riper, who had sustained head injuries.

Both Van Riper and the victim were transported by Newark Ambulance to Valley West Hospital in Sandwich.

The victim was treated for minor injuries and released.

Van Riper did not have an entry in the car show, but was a spectator who drove to the event and parked near his estranged wife, then began to argue with her.

The DeKalb County Coroner’s office, which also is investigating the incident, could not say definitely whether the head injuries did nor did not have some relationship to the death.

Koster said the victim, whom he declined to name at this time, was acquainted with both Van Riper and his estranged wife.

“We’re not identifying the victim until we complete our investigation and make sure there are no further threats against him,” the deputy said.

Deputies have had a number of contacts with Van Riper in the past, including a couple of domestic-related incidents and a violation of an order of protection.

Van Riper had never been arrested by the sheriff’s department, however, Koster said.