I believe that even with the HANS device Dale's injuries would have still
been fatal or life threatening. The autopsy revealed that he also had
broken 8 ribs, a broken sternum, a broken left ankle, and a collaposed lung.
> Yes, Dale and others wear an open face helmet but in this type of head on
> impact the helmet really is a moot point. Maybe in a crash with a lot of
> debris flying around and smashing into the***pit you may be in more
danger
> wearing an open face helmet but with a head on impact like this you could
> probably be wearing a space helmet and still die.
> The type of injury suffered by Dale Earnhardt more than likely is the same
> as Petty and Irwin's -- a basalar skull fracture. Most of the news calls
> this sever head trama and people don't relate this to a broken neck which
> descibes it better. Basically with a basalar skull fracture your skull and
> brain move so forcefully that they snap off from your spine, killing
> instantly. I think the press is doing a disservice to the public by
> describing this as sever head trauma. One guy I work with actually thought
> Dale probably hit his head really *** the dash and that an airbag
might
> have helped...(yeah, helped everyone that gets bumped to have an airbag
> deploy in their face so they can't see to stay out of a wreck)
> Anyway, I also found the comments of the examing doctor to be very
> misleading and not at all helping anyone want to learn more about the HANS
> device or other saftey measures that are designed to prevent this exact
> injury.
> FROM FOX NEWS
> "Dr. Steve Bohannon, who tried to save Earnhardt's life as the driver sat
> slumped in the wreckage, said the autopsy performed Monday confirmed what
> everyone suspected: Earnhardt died on impact. He sustained a skull
fracture
> that ran from the front to the back of his brain.
> The autopsy didn't include any test whether a HANS device would have saved
> Earnhardt. Bohannon said he had doubts how effective the device would have
> been in this accident
> "Even if you restrain the head and neck in this type of injury with the
> forces we're talking about - hitting a concrete barricade at 150, 170
mph -
> there's still one more element you have to address," Bohannon said. "All
> those organs internally still move at time of impact," and that could be
> fatal, too."
> His comment basically calls the HANS device useless in this type of
> wreck...however, if you read closely he goes on to say that Dale's
fracture
> mighgt have been prevented BUT other elements COULD still have caused
death
> TOO...well that I think is a pretty big and unproven TOO to be using when
> his statement is going to influence not only the govering body of the
sport
> but also many of its drivers young and old across the country.
> Well, if it was me, give me the HANS device and prevent my head popping
off
> my body...I'll worry later if my brain is so scrabled I don't want to go
> on....but maybe drivers just don't want to hear about it period.
> > The Times in the UK reported today that he was wearing an openfaced
> helmet.
> > I must admit I am not a huge follower of NASCAR, but any death in the
> sport
> > is alway painful. But, is what the Times said true? If it is it common
> > practice in NASCAR. I cannot believe in this day and age that any driver
> > would wear such a helmet whilst driving at such speeds. I'm even more
> > shocked that any motorsport governing body would allow a driver into a
car
> > capable of the kinf of speeds that NASCARs go, with an open faced
helmet.
> > If I am wrong, I apologise, I am in no way trying to take away from this
> > tragedy. If it is true, I cannot believe it.
