Lying on the Road Before Being Run Over: Vehicular Manslaughter, Suicide, or Accident? Two Case Reports and Literature Review.
J Forensic Sci
; 65(6): 2170-2173, 2020 Nov.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-32602997
ABSTRACT
We present two apparent hit-and-run cases where two women were run over. The vehicles involved were subsequently traced and their owners charged with manslaughter. Autopsy evidence, scientific investigation of the scene and circumstances of the deaths, technical inspection of the vehicles, and DNA analysis strongly suggested that both victims were lying on the road before the accident. Case 1 was a suicide. In Case 2, the victim had fallen to the ground following acute alcohol intoxication. Victimological analysis was pivotal in reconstructing the dynamics of the events. We suggest that a hit-and-run fatality should not be regarded as a manslaughter case until each piece of evidence has been carefully considered. We also propose an interdisciplinary method of reconstructing run over occurrences based on the following three steps:
(i) identify whether there was a primary impact when the victim was in an upright position; (ii) identify victim drug/alcohol intoxication and/or presence of acute or chronic disease or injury, which may have contributed to the impact; and (iii) consider suicide intent.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Acidentes por Quedas
/
Acidentes de Trânsito
/
Ciências Forenses
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Intoxicação Alcoólica
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Suicídio Consumado
Tipo de estudo:
Etiology_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
Limite:
Adult
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Female
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Humans
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Middle aged
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2020
Tipo de documento:
Article