Fatal all-terrain vehicle crashes: injury types and alcohol use.
BACKGROUND
Since the 1990s, West Virginia has led the U.S. in the per-capita death rate from all-terrain vehicle (ATV) crashes, with rates eight times the national average and continually increasing. A comprehensive assessment was conducted of ATV fatalities to provide critical guidance for community interventions and public health policy to prevent further deaths.


METHODS
In 2007, death certificates for 2004 to 2006 with ICD-10 codes correlating to ATV crashes were used to identify decedents involved in crashes occurring in West Virginia. Data were abstracted from medical examiner records regarding crash circumstances, sustained injuries, and toxicology.


RESULTS
During 2004-2006, a total of 112 fatal ATV crashes were identified. Nearly all (92%) decedents were the ATV operator, and only 15% were known to have worn helmets. Among 54 traffic crashes, collisions (56%) and head injuries (65%) predominated, whereas the majority of 58 nontraffic crashes were rollovers (55%) and were most commonly associated with compression injuries of the thorax and abdomen (36%). Regardless of crash class (i.e., traffic versus nontraffic), alcohol was detected in the blood of 50% of decedents; of those, 88% had blood alcohol concentrations >OR=0.08% (mean=0.17%), West Virginia's legal limit. Drugs of abuse were identified in 21% of decedents, including marijuana (11%); opioid analgesics (7%); diazepam (6%); cocaine (2%); and methamphetamine (1%).


CONCLUSIONS
Fatal crash and injury types differ significantly depending on the location of ATV use, although alcohol and drug abuse are frequent risk factors in all types of ATV crashes. In addition to promoting helmet use, interventions are needed to address alcohol use among ATV users.
Hall
Aron J
AJ
Epidemic Intelligence Service, CDC, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. ajhall@cdc.gov
Bixler
Danae
D
Helmkamp
James C
JC
Kraner
James C
JC
Kaplan
James A
JA
D000059:Accidents / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity; D003644:Death Certificates; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015541:Off-Road Motor Vehicles / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017678:Sex Distribution; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014903:West Virginia / Q000453:epidemiology; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000145:classification* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult