Quote:
Originally Posted by Buzz
An excerpt from the investigation report on NASCAR.com:
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Quote:
Raddin said that Earnhardt's death was not the result of a single cause, but that a combination of several unusual factors triggered his death.
"These (factors) included the uncommon severity and trajectory of the car's impact with the wall, an immediately prior collision with (Ken Schrader's car) that put him out of position, and a separation of the left lap belt under load that allowed greater motion within the car," Raddin said.
Raddin later said that he believed that Earnhardt might still have perished even had the belt remained intact, and that was backed up by a critical excerpt from the report:
"The seatbelt separation cannot be isolated as the sole cause of Dale Earnhardt's death. While the separation of the lap belt increased the potential for serious injury, the precise timing of the separation during the impact is unknown.
"As the experts explain, the crash was very severe, several events coincided in a unique manner to produce a tragic result, and none of them can be singled out as the sole cause. In other words, it is impossible to determine with certainty whether Dale Earnhardt would or would not have survived if the lap belt had remained intact."
Much evidence regarding the seat belt in question was included in the report, via an 11-point synopsis:
1. The belt system was found loose and displaced to the right.
2. There was no opportunity for cutting.
3. No one at the accident scene could confirm that the belt was intact or separated.
4. The medical examiner photographs show a separated belt.
5. The left lap belt has been secured since the accident.
6. DNA and other evidence confirm the separated left lap belt in NASCAR's possession is the belt from the Earnhardt accident.
7. Fiber analysis shows that the belt was torn under stress and not cut.
8. The pattern of injuries is consistent with separation of the belt during impact.
9. The anchored portion of the left lap belt show that it was "dumped," meaning the seat belt's webbing is pulled or moved significantly to one side of the metal adjustment device through which the webbing is threaded.
10. Simpson Race Products experts concur that the left lap belt separated during the impact.
11. The chain of custody demonstrates that there was no opportunity for anyone to invent a separated lap belt.
Although the belt was clearly broken, Bill Simpson, who founded the company that manufactured the belt, continues to place the blame on the belt's installation. He was in attendance Tuesday, but said little at the urging of the herd of lawyers that surrounded him.
Raddin also concentrated on the medical aspect of the investigation, which included an in-depth look at Earnhardt's extensive injuries, including eight broken ribs, a broken sternum, a broken left ankle, a broken left clavicle and several abrasions.
Maybe I misunderstood the previous post
. What I read in the post was that Dale unhooked his belt on purpose on the last lap I.E. EGO LAP.
I read into this last post that the separated belt was done in the accident. I see no where that they think that he took off his belt while driving.
Terry