Airbag-induced lethal cervical trauma.
In a frontal collision of a car (taxicab) perpendicular into a streetcar with an impact speed of approximately 30 kph (20 mph), the driver survived with minor injuries. The front-seat passenger was extremely "out-of-position," with her seat positioned nearly fully forward. This in combination with her short stature led to fatal injuries resulting from the inflating airbag (U.S.-type) striking against her face and chin. At the scene, she was found essentially clinically dead, but was resuscitated and died finally 13 days later. Postmortem examination showed a complete disruption of all ventral ligaments between the base of the skull and the first and second vertebrae, a nearly complete ventral rupture of the medulla, and diffuse axonal injury of the brain.
Maxeiner
H
H
Institute of Legal Medicine, Free University, Berlin, Germany.
Hahn
M
M
D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000328:Adult; D017278:Air Bags / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans