Not a firearm: A case report of a fatal penetrating pseudo-ballistic neck injury from defective airbag deployment.

Abstract

Fatal injuries caused by defective airbag inflators are increasingly recognized as a distinct forensic and medicolegal issue. We describe the case of a 51-year-old male driver who was transported by emergency medical services following a low-speed frontal collision with a palm tree and was declared dead on arrival at the hospital. Review of surveillance footage showed that the driver abruptly swerved in an attempt to avoid a motorcyclist immediately before impact. Emergency services were alerted by witnesses, and police investigation documented limited frontal damage localized to the front bumper and hood, without intrusion into the vehicle interior. Vehicle inspection confirmed seat belt use at the time of the collision. The driver's airbag had deployed explosively. Inspection of the steering wheel revealed that part of the cylindrical inflator capsule was missing, and multiple pieces of airbag inflator shrapnel were recovered from inside the vehicle interior. No firearms, ammunition, or cartridge cases were identified at the scene. At autopsy, a single penetrating wound was observed on the anterior aspect of the neck. Internal examination demonstrated complete transection of the trachea, esophagus, and the jugulo-carotid vascular bundle, accompanied by comminuted fractures of the cervical vertebrae and partial laceration of the spinal cord. A jagged metallic fragment, morphologically consistent with material from an airbag inflator, was found lodged within the wound track. This case highlights fatal airbag inflator rupture injuries and the importance of reporting suspected cases to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.