Bohannon said that Earnhardt had "blood in the air ways and blood in the ears that we see in a basilar skull fracture.  "An autopsy will be done probably today for cause of death. My speculation as an emergency physician would be head injuries, particularly to the base of the skull, that ended his life.  He was unconscious and unresponsive from the rime of the first paramedics arrival."

When Bohannon reached Earnhardt's car one medic was inside performing CPR and another helped while leaning into the drivers window. "We did everything we could for him," Bohannon said.  Firefighters cut the roof off Earnhardt's car to remove him. He was taken by ambulance to Halifax Medical Center. Bohannon said the trip lasted about 90 seconds.  Medics continued CPR and life saving measures during the trip.  Earnhardt arrived at the hospital at 4:45 p.m.

Bohannon said that a trauma team attempted to save his life for about 20 minutes by placing him on a ventilator and giving him multiple IV lines, among the many procedures performed.  "He had what I feel were life ending type of injuries at the time of the impact and really nothing could be done for him," Bohannon said.  Earnhardt was pronounced dead at 5:16 p.m. with his wife, Teresa, at his side.

Earnhardt, whose seven series championships tied Richard Petty's record, is the fourth Nascar driver to be killed since may of 2000.  Adam petty died in a single car crash during practice May 12, 2000 at New Hampshire International Speedway. Kenny Irwin died in a single car crash during practice July 7th, 2000 at New Hampshire International Speedway.  Tony Roper died from injuries in a Craftsman Truck Series race October 15, 2000 at Texas Motor Speedway.

All suffered basilar skull fractures, which are injuries at the bottom of the rear of the skull. A violent whiplash action often but arteries, causes rapid blood loss and destroys such functions as breathing and heart rate.  A safety feature called the Head and Neck Support device hs been developed to limit a head's movement in a frontal or side impact.  Very few drivers had planned to wear the device Sunday. Earnhardt, one of the few drivers who wears an open faced helmet, was not wearing a HANS device.

Asked if the device would have saved Earnhardt's life Bohannon said: "I suspect not. I know a full face helmet would not have made any difference.  Earnhardt. who's 76 career victories ran sixth all time, is the first NASCAR driver to die at Daytona since Neil Bonnett and Rodney Orr were killed days apart from separate crashes in 1994.

The last Winston Cup driver to die in a race was J.D. McDuffie, who died Aug. . 11, 1991, at Watkins Glen International Speedway.  Among Earnhardt's victories was the 1998 Daytona 500, the only time he won this event despite nearly winning it several other times. His last victory came Oct. 15, 2000 at Talladega.  Ten of his victories came at that track.

Michael Waltrip won Sunday's Daytona 500 in a car owned by Earnhardt for his first career Winston Cup victory./  Dale Earnhardt's son, Dale Jr., finished second.  Earnhardt is survived by his wife, Teresa, and his four children, Kerry, Kelly, Dale Jr. and Taylor

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