Byard Roger W, O'Donovan Siobhan, Gilbert John D
Forensic Science SA and Adelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide, Frome Road, Adelaide, South Australia, 5005, Australia.
Forensic Sci Med Pathol. 2021 Jun;17(2):343-345. doi: 10.1007/s12024-020-00306-4. Epub 2020 Sep 7.
A 28-year-old driver was found dead in his car after impact with a truck. At the scene he was seated in the driver's seat partially hanging out of the vehicle with the sash component of the seatbelt tightly pressed into his neck. At autopsy there was evidence of neck compression with bilateral conjunctival petechial hemorrhages and fracture of the right superior horn of the thyroid cartilage. Limb fractures and internal injuries were not associated with significant hemorrhage. There was no evidence of brain trauma. Death was, therefore due to neck compression from the seatbelt demonstrating an additional rare lethal mechanism that may be encountered in vehicle crashes. External bruises and abrasions may not be present around the neck due to padding from clothing, however conjunctival petechiae and neck injuries are supportive of the diagnosis.
一名28岁的司机在与一辆卡车相撞后死在自己车内。在现场，他坐在驾驶座上，身体部分探出车外，安全带的束带部分紧紧勒住他的脖子。尸检发现有颈部受压的迹象，伴有双侧结膜瘀点出血以及甲状软骨右上角骨折。四肢骨折和内伤均未伴有大量出血。没有脑外伤的迹象。因此，死亡原因是安全带造成的颈部受压，这表明在车辆碰撞事故中可能会遇到另一种罕见的致命机制。由于衣物的缓冲作用，颈部周围可能没有外部瘀伤和擦伤，然而结膜瘀点和颈部损伤有助于诊断。
