Former Indy 500 driver dies

TROTWOOD, Ohio—David “Salt” Walther, the former auto and hydroplane racer who was severely burned in a spectacular crash in the 1973 Indianapolis 500, has died. He was 65.

The Montgomery County Coroner’s Office confirmed the death Friday, saying Walther was reported dead Thursday night and that the cause of death hadn’t been determined.

Walther also drove briefly in NASCAR, finishing 12th in the 1976 Daytona 500.

At the start of the 1973 Indy 500, Walther’s car pinwheeled down the track, his legs sticking out of his torn up racer, after touching wheels with Jerry Grant and slamming into the catch-fencing in a fiery crash near the starting line. Blinded by the fireball that spread across the front straightaway, several other drivers slammed into Walther’s car.

Walther fought an addiction to pain killers after the accident and spent time in jail and prison. He was arrested in Dayton last month in a case dating to 2007, and it wasn’t immediately known if he was incarcerated at the time of his death.

Mrs. Thomas was born Jan. 22, 1925. She was a homemaker and a Baptist. She was preceded in death by her husband, Malcolm Thomas Sr.; one daughter, Glenda Kay Brooks; and one grandson, Rodney Lynn Thomas.

Survivors include two sons and one daughter-in-law, Malcolm Jr. and Evelyn Thomas of Seagoville, Texas, and Mike Thomas of DeKalb; one sister and brotherinBillie Edwynna and Paul Gumaer of Quinlin, Texas; three sisters-in-law, Doris Jones of New Boston, Linda Jones of Old Boston, Texas, and Ima Dee Jones of DeKalb; five grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; three greatgreat-grandchildren; and a number of other relatives.

Services will be 11 a.m. Monday at Comforter Funeral Home. Burial will be in Chapelwood Memorial Gardens, Nash, Texas.

Visitation will be 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Email registration to comforterfuneralhome@windstream.net.