title: A planned complex suicide by gunshot and vehicular crash.
abstract: Complex suicide is usually defined as the application of more than one killing mechanism to ensure a fatal outcome. Herein we report an unusual case of a planned complex suicide of a 20 year old-male combining gunshot with coincidental intentional vehicular crash. The case was initially assumed to be a simple traffic accident until a rimfire pistol was found in close proximity to the deceased as well as gunshot wound of the head. This paper demonstrates the importance of careful inspection of the death scene, as well as the complex performance of autopsy examination to explain the manner of death and distinguish accidental deaths from suicides in such cases. Nevertheless, this assessment might by very difficult or even impossible. It has to be assumed that a high number of suicides in road traffic remain undetected.
authors: Institute of Forensic Medicine and Medicolegal Expertises, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, University Hospital, Martin, Slovak Republic. lubomir.straka@unm.sk
authors: Lubomir
authors: L
authors: Straka
authors: Frantisek
authors: F
authors: Novomesky
authors: Frantisek
authors: F
authors: Stuller
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Janik
authors: Jozef
authors: J
authors: Krajcovic
authors: Petr
authors: P
authors: Hejna
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D020197:Head Injuries, Penetrating / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000473:pathology; D013405:Suicide; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult