[A case of a driver's death from compression asphyxia outside of passenger vehicle].

Abstract

The article presents a case of a combined type of motor vehicle injury in the driver in the cab of passenger vehicle followed by falling out through the windshield and compression of the body between the overturned car and the ground surface with compression asphyxia development. In postmortem examination multiple incised wounds, scratches, bruises and contused wounds on the face, anterior surface of the chest, upper and lower extremities, hemorrhages in the soft tissues of occipital region of the head and back, closed multi-fragment fracture of the right radial bone in the lower third with displacement of fragments were found. Thus, there were no injuries of the visceral organs and other bones of the skeleton. Classic asphyctic signs and carmine pulmonary edema were also revealed in the corpse's examination. It was concluded based on the obtained data that the pressure force of the motor vehicle did not exceed the threshold of resistance of the bones and visceral organs in this case, and therefore did not lead to their damage, but it caused an obstacle for respiratory movements and led to death from compression asphyxia. Thus, the version of police investigation about circumstances of the motor vehicle accident was confirmed and the cause of death was established on the basis of a comprehensive assessment of the corpse's forensic examination results, analysis of investigative and operational information, data of the accident site inspection.