Formula 1 - 1978 - Round 14 - Italian GP

The race started at 3:30pm Central European Time (UTC+1), and the starter Gianni Restelli was overenthusiastic turning on the green lights before all the cars had lined up,[1] that resulted in several cars in the middle of the field getting a jump on those at the front. The result was a funneling effect of the cars approaching the chicane, and the cars were tightly bunched together with little room for maneuver. James Hunt was overtaken on the right-hand side by Riccardo Patrese, and Hunt instinctively veered left and hit the rear right wheel of Peterson's Lotus 78, with Vittorio Brambilla, Hans-Joachim Stuck, Patrick Depailler, Didier Pironi, Derek Daly, Clay Regazzoni and Brett Lunger all involved in the ensuing melee. Peterson's Lotus went into the barriers hard on the right-hand side and caught fire. He was trapped, but Hunt, Regazzoni and Depailler managed to free him from the wreck before he received more than minor burns. He was dragged free and laid in the middle of the track fully conscious, but with severe leg injuries. It took 20 minutes before medical help was dispatched to the scene. Brambilla, who had been hit on the head by a flying wheel and rendered unconscious, and Peterson were taken to the Niguarda hospital in nearby Milan.

Death of Ronnie Peterson

At the hospital, Peterson's X-rays showed he had a total of twenty seven fractures in both legs, according to the newly appointed F1 doctor Sid Watkins in his autobiography "Life at the Limit" from 1996. After discussion with him, Peterson was sent to intensive care so that the surgeons could operate to stabilize the bones.[3] There was some level of dispute between the doctors regarding whether all fractures should be immediately fixed or not.[4] During the night, Peterson's condition worsened, and he was diagnosed with fat embolism.[5] By morning he was in full kidney failure due to the embolism, and was declared dead at 9:55 am on 11 September 1978