[Sharon]

Report of case

A male dead body was brought to the Department of Forensic Medicine, Lady Hardinge Medical College and Associated Hospitals for medico-legal autopsy. There was alleged history that while the deceased was travelling as a front seat occupant in a car at about 3.15 AM, met side collision with another car during passing a signalled crossing. Due to forward and right lateral ejection, front windscreen was broken entrapping his head and neck parts. He was then rescued by the police personnel and transported to a nearby hospital, but was declared brought dead. All other passengers including the drivers of both vehicles escaped the accident with some minor injuries.

External examination showed few small broken glass fragments near the neck regions of body and wearing apparel of the deceased. External injuries observed were- lacerated wound of size 3cm x 0.8cm, subcutaneous deep, situated on the upper eyelid and lateral angle of left eye, L-shaped lacerated wound of size 10cm x 3cm, muscle deep, situated on the cheek, extended downwards and to the left from right angle of mouth across the chin, multiple cut lacerated wounds of sizes varying from 2cm to 7cm x 0.1 to 0.4 cm, subcutaneous deep, associated with abrasions in the surrounding areas were found on both sides of face, cut lacerated wound of size 21cm x 6cm x 7cm (muscle deep) was situated horizontally on the anterior half of neck above the level of laryngeal prominence and 3cm below chin. Right end of the wound was 3cm below right angle of mandible on the right antero-lateral aspect of neck, whereas its left end lay 4cm below left angle of mandible on the left antero-lateral aspect of neck. All the strap muscles of neck including both sides sternocliedomastoid muscles, nerves, all major blood vessels including carotid arteries and jugular veins, pharynx at the level of epiglottis were found completely transected at the wound level. Few broken glass fragments were found in and near the neck injury. Abrasion, red in colour of size 3cm x 2cm was situated on the posterior aspect of left elbow. Right thigh was found swollen and deformed.

Broken glass fragments were found near the neck wound


Full extent of the cut throat injury


Internal examination revealed that internal organs of head, chest and abdominal cavities were intact and pale. Both side chambers of heart were empty. Trachea was intact and free from any blood collection. Stomach contained 100 ml of semidigested food materials emitting strong alcoholic odour. Dissection of right thigh revealed extravasation of about 800ml of blood into the muscle planes with fracture of right femur near the level of upper 1/3 and lower 2/3 junction.

Examination of the accidental vehicles and their inspection reports revealed that right half of front part of the car inside which the deceased was sitting was badly damaged. Laminated front windscreen was broken showing multiple cracks and a defect towards the right side that could accommodate one adult head. Huge amount of blood collection was seen below the defect on front window screen. Posterior margin of the deformed and raised metallic bonnet lying towards the front windscreen showed no blood stain, thus excluded possibility of the cut throat injury by it. Seat belt of left side front seat was found intact. Left front aspect of the other car was showing some minor damage.


The vehicle involved in the accident and the gap in broken front wind screen

Based on paleness of the internal organs in a healthy adult body and extravasation of blood in the accidental vehicle, cause of death was opined as haemorrhagic shock as a result of injury to major blood vessels of the neck.

[Faline]

[grimekeepa]

Kids make me loose my top all the time.................

[Sisteskrik]

That was, er, pretty exhaustive.

[1Monster666]

nice

[☠ Sting ☠]

Damn

[Spiffyfable]

A seatbelt would have kept his head away from the windshield

[Sharon]

Originally Posted by Sisteskrik ↗

That was, er, pretty exhaustive.

A chore of a read but some folk like a little story to read with a cuppa :)

[kellyhound]

good info

[Sebring]

"Trachea was intact and free from any blood collection."

It doesn't look spared to me.

I've always wondered, what does a person feel when they suffer an injury like this? Is it a pulling/ripping sensation with burning pain? Or does shock take over right away and they don't feel anything? The same with being dragged by a car through the street or a beheading. Does shock take over immediately and spare the agony? (morbid I know. Just fulfilling my duties here.)