Moreschi Carlo, Da Broi Ugo, Fanzutto Antonia, Cividino Sirio, Gubiani Rino, Pergher Gianfranco
From the *Department of Medical and Biological Sciences, Section of Forensic Medicine, and †Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Section of Agricultural Engineering, University of Udine, Udine, Italy.
Am J Forensic Med Pathol. 2017 Dec;38(4):312-317. doi: 10.1097/PAF.0000000000000334.
Farm tractors are large, heavy, powerful vehicles with a high center of gravity. When driven carelessly on sloping, irregular, or slippery ground, tractors can overturn sideways and cause the death by crush asphyxia of the driver or passengers, especially if appropriate safety equipment is not fitted or used. The aim of this review is to focus on the diagnostic difficulties with which coroners and forensic pathologists have to cope when a confirmation of crush asphyxia after tractor side rollover is required by judicial authorities. Forensic investigations in such cases must involve the meticulous analysis of the death scene and the mechanical characteristics of the vehicle together with accurate postmortem and toxicological examination.
