Dr. Barry Myers, a professor of biomedical engineering at Duke University, has independently reviewed the autopsy photos of former NASCAR champion Dale Earnhardt and released a report for the Orlando Sentinel newspaper.
In his review Dr. Myers concluded that Earnhardt, who suffered fatal injuries in a last-lap crash in February's Daytona 500, died as a result of the weight of his unrestrained head snapping forward beyond the ability of his neck muscles to keep it from separating from the base of the skull.
Dr. Myers conclusion conflicts with the statements released by NASCAR and Dr. Steve Bohannon, which have speculated that the cause of death could have been a result of a faulty lap belt/restraint system. "As much," wrote Myers, "the restraint failure does not appear to have played a role in Mr. Earnhardts fatal injury." Dr. Myers also points to other injuries suffered by Earnhardt eight broken ribs, a broken breastbone, abrasions over the left hip and lower left abdomen that show the restraint system functioned properly.
While the autopsy found that Earnhardts chin did hit and bend the steering wheel, which could be fatal, Dr. Myers concluded that the sudden whipping action would have in itself killed Earnhardt.