Police Report Says Belt in Earnhardt’s Car Was Torn

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The seat belt worn by Dale Earnhardt when he crashed on the final lap of the Daytona 500 was torn, according to a police report.

The report contradicts statements made by veteran firefighter and emergency medical technician Tommy Propst, who was among the first rescuers to reach Earnhardt’s vehicle. Propst said Earnhardt’s belt was intact after the Feb. 18 crash.

NASCAR has steadfastly stood by its contention that a broken belt was discovered in the car and might have played a role in the death of Earnhardt.

Investigators told The News-Journal of Daytona Beach they examined Earnhardt’s wrecked Chevrolet and its belt system on May 29--more than three months after the fatal crash--outside Charlotte, N.C., where NASCAR transported the car for safe keeping while the probe continued.

Detective Sgt. Steve Szabo said he found the original belt in two pieces with torn fibers. He said NASCAR President Mike Helton then used a pocket knife to cut another belt that was the same model, manufactured by Simpson Performance Products. Szabo examined both belts.

“The cut belt did not have any similarity to the belt ends that were involved in the crash,” Szabo wrote in a report obtained by the paper.

Szabo determined Earnhardt’s belt had torn in the area where it is adjusted for tightness.

Bill Simpson, whose company made the belt assembly used by Earnhardt, has maintained the belt didn’t fail. He could not be reached for comment Friday.