Plane carrying NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. crashes in Tennessee

ELIZABETHTON, Tenn. (AP) – Dale Earnhardt Jr. was taken to a hospital after his plane crashed in east Tennessee.

The NASCAR television analyst and former driver’s sister, Kelley Earnhardt Miller, tweeted that “everyone is safe and has been taken to the hospital for further evaluation.”

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

Federal Aviation Administration officials said a Cessna Citation rolled off the end of a runway and caught fire after landing at Elizabethton Municipal Airport at 3:40 p.m. Thursday. FAA officials said the preliminary indication is that two pilots and three passengers were aboard.

Carter County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Thomas Gray confirmed Earnhardt was aboard but said he wasn’t one of the pilots.

Earnhardt retired as a full-time racer in 2017 and has been working as an analyst for NBC. He is part of the scheduled broadcast team for Saturday night’s Cup Series event in Bristol, Tennessee.

WCYB-TV, the NBC affiliate in the area, reports Earnhardt was taken to a local hospital. Elizabethton,  Tennessee Fire Chief Barry Carrier told WCYB-TV, everyone survived the crash and none of the injuries was serious.

Earnhardt Jr.’s sister posted on Twitter: “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.”