: Reports noted Cevert had suffered a "bout of vomiting" shortly before the final qualifying run, though it is unknown if this contributed to the crash.
The barrier, which was improperly installed or not designed to withstand such a high-speed impact, caused the car to become pinned and partially severed 1.2.1 .
The most common description circulating is that Cevert was "decapitated". However, multiple detailed sources clarify that he was effectively . The Portuguese Wikipedia (cited for crash detail) notes he was "split in half at the abdomen", while a contemporary report from Brazil described fatal decapitation. The barrier impacted him at the torso, causing injuries incompatible with life.