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Kevin Hart’s 1970 Plymouth Barracuda Crash Could Lead to New Safety Laws

On September 1, comedian Kevin Hart was involved in a serious, one-vehicle car accident that left him and the other 2 people in the car with serious injuries. CHP is now looking to tear that car apart.
Kevin Hart's 1970 Plymouth Barracuda after it went off a road in California 4 photos
Photo: TMZ.com
Totaled 1970 Plymouth BarracudaTotaled 1970 Plymouth BarracudaKevin Hart's 1970 Plymouth Barracuda
For his 40th birthday, Hart bought himself a 1970 Plymouth Barracuda, but he wasn’t at the wheel when it careened off the road and went down an embankment. Still, both he and the driver received serious back injuries in the crash, and the California Highway Police believes it was because the car did not have seatbelt harnesses.

A source from CHP tells TMZ that the Barracuda will be disassembled so that the exact cause of the crash is established. The 3-week process could also result in new safety laws for California, which would target the presence of safety harnesses in restored or customized classic cars, as was the case with Hart’s Plymouth.

The same media outlet noted after the crash that both the driver and Hart, who was the front passenger, sustained back injuries resulting from their having only lap belts on. A 5-point harness would have reduced the odds of back injuries in case of a crash and could potentially prevent death in future incidents involving restored classics.

“Even if there were mechanical problems with the car that caused the crash, a safety harness could have prevented or minimized the serious back injuries Kevin and the driver suffered,” the publication says.

CHP has previously pushed vehicle safety laws regarding salvaged cars that are not safely restored and they must now be inspected by the department before they hit the road. Given the high profile nature of this incident, they may pursue the issue further, which could mean all restored classics would have to be fitted with a 5-point safety harness sometime in the future.

Meanwhile, reports suggest that Hart has undergone 3 surgeries for his back injuries and is expected to be released for out-patient care in the following days. His celebrity pals tell the media and their fans on social media that he will eventually be “fine.”
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About the author: Elena Gorgan
Elena Gorgan profile photo

Elena has been writing for a living since 2006 and, as a journalist, she has put her double major in English and Spanish to good use. She covers automotive and mobility topics like cars and bicycles, and she always knows the shows worth watching on Netflix and friends.
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