Well remembered by my era for two releases of Cats Cradle, college kids enjoyed a lot of alternate hits that were his trademark. Perhaps he inspired Kansas, I don't know.
Account Of The Death...
On Thursday, July 16, 1981, just after noon, Chapin was driving in the left lane on the Long Island Expressway at about 65 mph on the way to perform at a free concert scheduled for later that evening at Eisenhower Park in East Meadow, New York. Near exit 40 in Jericho he put on his emergency flashers, presumably because of either a mechanical or medical problem (possibly a heart attack). He then slowed to about 15 miles (24 km) per hour and veered into the center lane, nearly colliding with another car. He swerved left, then to the right again, ending up directly in the path of a tractor-trailer truck. The truck could not brake in time and rammed the rear of Chapin's blue 1975 Volkswagen Rabbit, rupturing the fuel tank by climbing its back and causing it to burst into flames.
The driver of the truck and a passerby were able to get Chapin out of the burning car through the window and by cutting the seat belts before the car was engulfed in flames. Chapin was taken by police helicopter to a hospital, where ten doctors tried for 30 minutes to revive him.[citation needed] A spokesman for the Nassau County Medical Center said Chapin had suffered a heart attack and "died of cardiac arrest", but there was no way of knowing whether it occurred before or after the accident. In an interview years after his death, Chapin's daughter said "My dad didn't really sleep, and he ate badly and had a totally insane schedule."[6]
Even though Chapin was driving without a license, his driver's license having previously been revoked for a long string of traffic violations, his widow Sandy won a $12 million decision in a negligence lawsuit against Supermarkets General, the owners of the truck.
The above excerpt is from Wikipedia. Now, the other side of the story.
I recently interviewed a Vietnam Vet on his experience in Vietnam through 1964, his medical rehab and eventual honorable discharge for medical reasons. He was surprised how many people refused to hire him on his return from a tour of duty in Nam, a tour he volunteered for leaving a cushy photography job in the Army in Germany to become a Combat Medic. His injuries sustain while crossing an area his squad was assured was clear.
He eventually went to work in downtown N. Y. working meter detail and was quite content with his job.
On his way to work on July 16, 1981 he was two cars behind Harry Chapin and as such the first officer on the scene. His story was alittle different. He noted opening the car door only to have a slew of beer cans fall out. The rear seat filled with empties, the front had the unopened ones and the car definitely reeked of brew. He would not go into details on injuries and did not mention the fire. Others I have relayed this to questioned the presence of pot that seemed a likely embelishment as well.
So, not to mar the great benevolence of Mr. Chapin (of whom I am a fan), nor his memory I relay the above. Unfortunately the tradjedy of a performers death much like Whitney Houston's could better serve as a lesson that might avert future deaths if we were all to see the downside of the lifestyles of the rich and famous.