Abstract
IntroductionThe motor vehicle crash (MVC) constitutes an important challenge for forensic pathology in order to identify the manner and cause of death. Our study focuses on a fatal accident during a rally race corresponding to MVC sub-category.Materials and methodPostmortem computed tomography (PMCT) was performed before the conventional autopsy. Autoptic and PMCT data were compared. Data collection allowed analyzing biomechanical dynamics of the incident and post-traumatic injuries through qualitative-statistics and solicitation quantitative indices.ResultsPhoto and circumstantial evidence analysis showed a wrong installation of double shoulder belt system of head and neck support (HANS) collar. PMTC clearly highlighted multiple and bilateral fractures involving roof and base of skull; a displaced fracture of the right acetabulum was also encountered. Autopsy confirmed PMCT data and revealed a brainstem laceration. AIS (Abbreviated Injury Scale) achieved a maximum score in consideration of fatal injuries.DiscussionThe injuries analysis resulting from photographic surveys examination, conventional autopsy, and PMCT has led us to confirm a fatal front collision with a tree trunk. Head trauma represents a major injury in the present case. In this case, head injuries, related to whiplash trauma, are a consequence of a double shoulder belt system (HANS collar component) wrong installation.ConclusionMVC and especially high-speed motor racing represent an important death cause. There was, for this reason, a marked development of cars and occupants’ safety systems, such as HANS collar. PMCT improves the diagnostic performance of conventional autopsy and increases forensic medical knowledge related to traumatic injuries.
Highlights
The motor vehicle crash (MVC) constitutes an important challenge for forensic pathology in order to identify the manner and cause of death
Our study focuses on a fatal accident during a rally race; it corresponds to MVC sub-category
Photo and circumstantial evidence analysis showed a wrong installation of a double shoulder belt system of the head and neck support (HANS) collar, an important safety device for a helmet
Summary
The motor vehicle crash (MVC) constitutes an important challenge for forensic pathology in order to identify the manner and cause of death. Materials and method Postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) was performed before the conventional autopsy. The motor vehicle crash (MVC) constitutes an important challenge for forensic pathology, especially in recent years. Is a motorsport discipline taking place on public, asphalt or dirt, road. The “Mille Miglia” race, the most prestigious and ancient race, can be considered an ancestor of this motorsport discipline. The concept of the rally was vague, and there are no official regulations until the first half of the 1960s. Races became competitions with official regulations around the first half of the 1970s. The last one consists of a route marked out on Radar or Road Book that must be performed
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