Scary Moments For A NASCAR Legend!
A spokesperson for the Carter County Sheriff’s Department told USA TODAY Sports that Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s private plane crashed Thursday at a Tennessee airport, and the former NASCAR driver was transported to an area hospital.
Elizabethton Fire Chief Barry Carrier said the passengers escaped the wreckage while the plane was engulfed in flames after the crash during a landing at Elizabethton Municipal Airport. The plane, Carrier said, wrapped around a fence at the end of the runway and slid to a fiery stop in a grassy area before the Earnhardts, two pilots and a dog evacuated the crash site.
Earnhardt’s sister, Kelley Earnhardt Miller, posted on social media that everyone was okay.
I can confirm Dale, Amy & Isla along with his two pilots were involved in a crash in Bristol TN this afternoon. Everyone is safe and has been taken to the hospital for further evaluation. We have no further information at this time. Thank you for your understanding.
— Kelley Earnhardt (@EarnhardtKelley) August 15, 2019
The airport where the crash occurred is located about 15 miles south of Bristol Motor Speedway, site of this weekend’s NASCAR race. Earnhardt has been part of NBC Sports’ NASCAR broadcast crew since he retired from full-time racing at the end of the 2017 season.
VIDEO: Scenes from the Tennessee site where Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s plane crashed https://t.co/C5yM69h8pY pic.twitter.com/gV43yIeKeB
— Tennessean (@Tennessean) August 15, 2019
