Dental identification problems in the Abu Dhabi air accident

The forensic odontological examination of 112 victims in the 1983 air accident near Abu Dhabi is described with particular reference to the problems encountered in the age assessment of the 26 children, and serves to illustrate that dental identification in aviation accidents may be of only limited application in Asian victims. Following this accident, other means of identification had misguidedly been removed by the recovery teams. Of those identified, half were by dental means alone, but this amounted to only 6.24% of the total number of victims.     

Methods for identification of 28 burn victims following a 1996 bus accident in Spain

A car collided head-on with a bus containing 56 passengers plus the driver. A few seconds after the crash, the bus caught fire and 28 persons (15 male and 13 female) lost their lives. All the deceased were almost completely incinerated. To establish the identity of the victims, the judge in charge of the case designated a multidisciplinary Identification Commission. Postmortem procedures included a general external examination, routine photographs, dental examination, dental (intraoral and extraoral) and general radiographs (chest, ankle, etc.), and complementary biological methods for identification (e.g., DNA analysis). The antemortem information, including dental and medical records available, were transcribed onto the INTERPOL disaster victim identification forms. The detailed ante- and postmortem information were compared manually. In this disaster dental identity could be established in 57% of the victims, whereas dental evidence did not allow by itself the identification of 12 burned victims. Odontological examination and complementary radiographic procedures were found to be accurate, economic and rapid methods of identifying badly burned victims in this bus accident.     

道路交通事故中涉案者交通行为方式的法医学鉴定

目的回顾道路交通事故中需要进行涉案者交通方式鉴定的案例。探讨此类案例鉴定的思路和技术方法。方法收集28例近年本单位进行的道路交通事故涉案者交通行为方式鉴定案例,统计涉案者一般情况、损伤程度与交通行为方式的关系,交通事故发生的时间和地点、交通事故中车辆碰撞类型、采用的技术方法等,进行统计学处理。结果本组资料共28起道路交通事故案件,涉案人员共57人,男性50人．女性7人。交通事故发生时间夜间为19例（67．86％）,白天为9例（32．14％）。道路类型中,城市市区道路10例（35．7％）,城市郊区道路1例（3．6％）,省级道路10例（35．7％）,高速公路7例（25％）。酒后驾车9例（32．1％）。交通事故类型中,电动自行车与机动车事故5例（17．8％）,机动车与自行车事故1例（3．6％）,机动车单方事故7例（25．0％）;机动车与机动车事故11例（39．3％）,机动车与行人事故4例（14．3％）。涉案人员死亡27人,损伤29人,无明显伤害1人。损伤存活者中轻微伤10例（34．5％）,轻伤8例（27．6％）,重伤1l例（37．9％）。涉案者交通行为方式鉴定种类中,汽车驾驶人和乘车人认定16例（57．1％）,摩托车驾驶人和乘车人认定1例（3．6％）,电动自行车驾驶人和乘车人认定5例（17．8％）,自行车推行和骑行状态认定1例（3．6％）,摩托车推行和骑行状态认定1例（3．6％）,行人横过公路方向4例（14.3％）。涉案者交通行为方式鉴定采用的技术手段和方法．包括法医学活体损伤检验、法医学尸表检验、涉案肇事车车辆痕迹检验、DNA检验鉴定、现场人体模拟实验等。结论根据人体（活体或尸体）的体表损伤形态特征、痕迹分布,分析其致伤物和致伤方式,结合车辆痕迹检验结果,得出确认符合某种交通行为方式或者不符合某种交通行为方式的判断,结合案件的相关情况分析重建交通事故过程．是进行涉案者交通行为方式鉴定的基本思路。     

Searching for Kin Amidst Tragedy—Disaster Victim Identification Operations for US Bangla Flight 211

The nature of air disasters includes factors that exacerbate challenges in the identification process. Of the 49 deceased in the US Bangla air crash in Kathmandu, Nepal, four were intact, 11 presented with burn injuries, another 11 presented with partial charring, and 23 were completely charred. Personal belongings were useful in the identification phases for all types of victims. Fingerprints were obtainable and useful in intact victims and victims with less severe burn injuries; medical and surgical information was useful in bodies with burn injuries; finally, dental findings were useful in cases of extensive charring. Other useful methods in the process included marks of identification, physical features, and exclusion. In certain resource‐limited settings, especially in closed population disasters, where scientific identification (DNA, dental records, etc.) is not currently available, personal belongings, clothing, and physical findings analyzed by an identification team using a structured organization may be cautiously used as the primary means of identification.     

交通事故轮胎鉴定概述

轮胎鉴定是指涉及事故车辆的轮胎相关的鉴定项目,是交通事故技术鉴定中的重要项目之一,一般可分为轮胎痕迹鉴定和轮胎损坏情况及其与事故关系鉴定两种.本文着重论述了交通事故技术鉴定中上述两种轮胎鉴定的定义、鉴定步骤、鉴定方法,并通过典型案例来全面解读轮胎鉴定的具体鉴定过程.     

Lessons from Srebrenica: the contributions and limitations of physical anthropology in identifying victims of war crimes

In July 1995, the town of Srebrenica fell to Bosnian-Serb forces, leaving more than 7000 Muslim men missing and presumed dead. Anthropologists participating in the identification process were faced with a unique problem: the victims appeared identical. All were adult males of a single ethnic group. Decomposition as well as the absence of antemortem (AM) medical and dental records confounded identification. As of December 1999, only 63 men had been positively identified using DNA, personal effects, and identification papers. Are current anthropological methods of sex, age, and stature estimation and AM trauma assessment sufficiently accurate to differentiate the remaining victims and aid in their identification? Comparisons of relative-reported AM information and postmortem examination records for 59 of the 63 identified individuals indicated that while all individuals were sexed correctly, only 42.4% were accurately aged and 29.4% had a stature estimate that included their reported height.     

The epidemiology of fatal burn injuries

The paper retrospectively reviews 80 burn fatalities from accidents or attempted suicides with patients admitted to the LAC-USC Medical Center from 1983 to 1987 to determine demographic factors, etiology of the burn injury, and existence of predisposing risk factors. The average age of fatal burn victims was 44 years; 74% were males, 39% were Caucasian, 35% were black, 21% were Hispanic, and 5% were of Asian descent. Blacks and Caucasians were overrepresented and Hispanics underrepresented in relation to all autopsy cases. Major etiologic factors included suicide, falling asleep while smoking, accidents while working with volatile solvents, housefires, scalds, cooking accidents, and accidents involving motor vehicles. Gasoline was the commonest solvent involved with burn fatalities. Significant risk factors for burn fatality were substance abuse (25% of cases) and impaired mental function (19% of cases).     

Forensic dental identifications in the greater Houston area.

In order to confirm the identity of the deceased, 1.7% of the deaths (162 cases) evaluated at the Harris County Medical Examiner's Office during the time period of this study required a forensic dental evaluation. Data were collected and analyzed. The manner of death was ranked in order as follows: 30% homicide; 20% accident of various types other than motor vehicle accidents; 18% motor vehicle accidents; 16% remain undetermined; 9% natural causes; and 7% suicide. The cause of death was: 24% asphyxia, smoke inhalation, or thermal burn injuries; 23% blunt-force trauma; 18% miscellaneous causes of death; 15% undetermined; 13% gun shot wounds; and 7% asphyxia. The condition of the remains were: 38% charred or incinerated; 31% decomposing; 18% skeletal remains; 6% "fresh" or recently deceased; 4% fragmented; and 3% severely beaten or mangled with displacement of the maxillomandibular region, complicating the dental identification procedure. The gender was: 62% male; 34% female; and 4% undetermined. The race was: 55% Caucasian; 19% Hispanic; 14% black; 1% Asian; and 11% undetermined. The age was: 2% from 0 to 10 years of age; 9% from 11 to 20; 21% from 21 to 30; 18% from 31 to 40; 13% from 41 to 50; 8% from 51 to 60; 5% from 61 to 70; 4% from 71 to 80; 1% from 81 to 90; and 19% undetermined. Further evaluation of these and future dental identification cases will provide valuable data to help prepare the forensic dentist for the wide variety of cases that must be evaluated in the course of their careers.     

基于交通事故痕迹的自行车行驶状态分析

在以非机动车中发展较快的自行车为例,基于从事故发生接触碰撞的机动车、非机动车和人等上面提取和检验得到的微量物质交换及其表面附着物等证据,提出了认定嫌疑车辆的方法,通过大量相关资料、事故现场案卷以及一些典型案例,将现场痕迹检验鉴定方法进行分类和汇总,主要分析、阐述车辆痕迹方面问题,进而重现事故现场。这为判定机动车与非机动车交通事故中非机动车行驶状态提供了方法和思路,提高了交通事故责任认定的准确性和公正性。     

Positive Dental Identification Using Tooth Anatomy and Digital Superimposition

Dental identification of unknown human remains continues to be a relevant and reliable adjunct to forensic investigations. The advent of genomic and mitochondrial DNA procedures has not displaced the practical use of dental and related osseous structures remaining after destructive incidents that can render human remains unrecognizable, severely burned, and fragmented. The ability to conclusively identify victims of accident and homicide is based on the availability of antemortem records containing substantial and unambiguous proof of dental and related osseous characteristics. This case report documents the use of digital comparative analysis of antemortem dental models and postmortem dentition, to determine a dental identification. Images of dental models were digitally analyzed using Adobe Photoshop^TM software. Individual tooth anatomy was compared between the antemortem and postmortem images. Digital superimposition techniques were also used for the comparison. With the absence of antemortem radiographs, this method proved useful to reach a positive identification in this case.     

Application of 3D documentation and geometric reconstruction methods in traffic accident analysis: with high resolution surface scanning, radiological MSCT/MRI scanning and real data based animation

The examination of traffic accidents is daily routine in forensic medicine. An important question in the analysis of the victims of traffic accidents, for example in collisions between motor vehicles and pedestrians or cyclists, is the situation of the impact. Apart from forensic medical examinations (external examination and autopsy), three-dimensional technologies and methods are gaining importance in forensic investigations. Besides the post-mortem multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the documentation and analysis of internal findings, highly precise 3D surface scanning is employed for the documentation of the external body findings and of injury-inflicting instruments. The correlation of injuries of the body to the injury-inflicting object and the accident mechanism are of great importance. The applied methods include documentation of the external and internal body and the involved vehicles and inflicting tools as well as the analysis of the acquired data. The body surface and the accident vehicles with their damages were digitized by 3D surface scanning. For the internal findings of the body, post-mortem MSCT and MRI were used. The analysis included the processing of the obtained data to 3D models, determination of the driving direction of the vehicle, correlation of injuries to the vehicle damages, geometric determination of the impact situation and evaluation of further findings of the accident. In the following article, the benefits of the 3D documentation and computer-assisted, drawn-to-scale 3D comparisons of the relevant injuries with the damages to the vehicle in the analysis of the course of accidents, especially with regard to the impact situation, are shown on two examined cases.     

基于单车事故车速鉴定的取证技术

车速鉴定正成为道路交通事故司法鉴定的重要项目。单车事故由于其特殊性往往简单化处理。单车事故主要类型包括碰撞护栏、侧翻与坠崖等。单车事故车速鉴定原理主要是基于能量守恒定律。在分析三类事故常用鉴定计算公式基础上,对其取证要点进行了探究,包括护栏变形、车辆变形、圆周运动半径、坠车飞行距离等测量。并指出其他事故现场痕迹物证要素的测量对于车速鉴定可以起到辅助佐证的作用。     

Occupational workplace and traffic fatalities in Alsace, France (2000–2005): Results of toxicological investigations

France ranks as leader country in Europe for the consumption of cannabis as well as of psychoactive medications. Whereas the relationship between psychotropics and road accidents is now well-established, few data are still available on the influence of drugs on occupational accidents. The purpose of the present study was to measure the prevalence of psychoactive drug intake (alcohol excepted) among victims of occupational fatalities (including workplace accidents + traffic accidents, i.e. on the way to and from work) occurred in the region Alsace over the period 2000–2005. Data were collected by compiling files on occupational accidents from two different public agencies (CRAM, Regional Sickness Fund Alsace-Moselle; DRTEFP, Regional Department of Work, Employment and Professional Training) together with those from the Medico-Legal Institute of Strasbourg over the period tested. Data analysis showed that 3% of the victims of workplace fatalities were under the influence of drugs (alcohol excluded) at the time of accident, as well as 5% of the victims of occupational traffic accidents. Our results also highlight a low rate of toxicological analyses, since these investigations were requested by the authorities in 41% of traffic victims and only 15% of workplace victims. In France, the relevance of psychoactive drug intake in occupational deaths is much better targeted in the case of traffic fatalities (due to the existence of specific regulations, e.g. compulsory urinalysis for drugs of abuse in drivers involved in a road accident) than in those occurred at workplace (no specific regulations).     

Four major disasters in Aquitaine,France: use of odontologic techniques for identification

The 4 mass disasters that have affected the Aquitaine region (France) in the previous 15 years are related through the specificity and the efficiency of dental methodology in identifying the victims. The results point to the decisive influence and the efficiency of dental methodology for identification of bodies that are burned or disfigured after an accident or a prolonged period in water.     

A complex forensic-medical molecular-genetic examination of the victims of terroristic bombing in Moscow underground

The authors emphasize the need in coordination when conducting expert examinations in investigation of accidents with a great number of victims. Coordination is of special importance for combined application of molecular-genetic technologies and standard forensic medical investigations. The experience in experts cooperation in investigation of terroristic bombing in Moscow underground on February 6, 2004, according to algorithm of combined use of conventional forensic medical methods and innovating techniques of molecular-genetic identification for personal identification of dead bodies in accidents with a great number of victims is demonstrated.     

Fatal aviation accidents in Lower Saxony from 1979 to 1996

So far no national or regional studies have been published in Germany regarding the number of fatal aviation accidents and results of autopsy findings. Therefore, we evaluated all fatal aviation accidents occurring in Lower Saxony from 1979 to 1996. A total of 96 aviation accidents occurred in this period involving 73 aeroplanes. The crashes resulted in the death of 154 people ranging in age from 19 to 68 years. The greatest number of victims in a single crash of an aircraft was (n=7). Other types of fatal accidents were crashes of aircraft and helicopter while on the ground (n=5), hot-air balloons (n=2), parachutes (n=10), hang glider accidents (n=5) and the striking of a bystander by a model airplane. Autopsies were performed on 68 of the 154 victims (44.2%), including 39 of the 73 pilots (53.4%). Some of the autopsies yielded findings relevant to the cause of the accident: gunshot wounds, the presence of alcohol or drugs in blood and preexisting diseases. Our findings emphasize the need for autopsy on all aviation accident victims, especially pilots, as this is the only reliable method to uncover all factors contributing to an accident.     

Fatal hunting injuries in North Rhine-Westphalia

The investigation covers 14 fatal hunting accidents which occurred in North Rhine-Westphalia in the last 23 years, among them 13 firearm fatalities. All the accidents happened during the statutory hunting season reaching a peak in the main small game season. 86% of the persons causing the accidents and 73% of the victims were over 41 years and experienced hunters. 36% of the accidents were caused by the victims themselves. The fatal gunshot injuries were inflicted by rifle bullets in 7 cases (54%) and shotgun pellets in six cases (46%). No accidents were due to shotgun slugs or handgun ammunition. The main factors responsible for the fatalities were: covering the victim while swinging on the game (31%), failure to discharge the firearm while descending from the raised hide or transporting the weapon in vehicles (31%), mistaking the victim for game (15%), failure to discharge the weapon during a hunting break or while pressing down obstacles or careless handling of the weapon (23%). In no case was the accident caused by a defective weapon or ammunition. In conclusion aspects of preventing fatal hunting accidents are discussed.     

“交通肇事逃逸”责任认定实务问题研究

在我国道路交通事故中,交通肇事逃逸事故所占比重一直较高。交通肇事逃逸行为使受害者得不到及时救助而处于危险境地,更有甚者因失去救助机会而死亡。交通事故因现场证据的变动或消失而难以得到准确的认定和处理,各地出台的条例对逃逸事故认定的极端性以及出现同一类型的交通肇事逃逸事故因发生的辖区不同而出现截然不同的处理结果等问题都是导致受害者家属得不到及时赔偿而不断信访投诉的原因。结合自身多年处理交通事故的实践经验,研究分析了"交通肇事逃逸"事故责任认定现存的缺陷,提出了完善"交通肇事逃逸"事故责任认定的建议和意见。     

Forensic odontologists successfully identify tsunami victims in Phuket, Thailand

More than a year has elapsed since the seaquake in South-East Asia in December 2004, and more than 92% of the non-Thai victims have been identified. About 80% of the non-Thai victims were identified by dental information. This high success rate of dental identification in Thailand was a matter of surprise for many forensic experts. Identification based on dental information is a highly efficient, reliable and rapid procedure. The conclusions drawn from the identification of tsunami victims in Thailand were recently discussed at the 17th Meeting of the Standing Committee on Disaster Victim Identification of Interpol in Lyon, and may be used to formulate new guidelines for the identification of victims.     

The personal identification of many samples recovered from under the sea

An automatic and rapid DNA typing system was employed for personal identification, using fragmentary tissue samples from victims in an airplane accident. Two victims were crushed into small pieces, and 33 samples suspected to belong to them were recovered from under the sea. From each sample, 10 mg was used for testing. The parents' bloods of two presumptive victims were also examined. DNA extraction from samples was performed by the NaI method, and the obtained DNA samples were analyzed with the ABI PRISM system. Among 33 samples, 31 samples were identified to be human tissues, possibly from two victims. The other two samples seemed to be parts of marine animals. ABO blood group, STR polymorphism, and mitochondrial DNA polymorphism typing were possible in every examined human sample. Two victims' fragmentary tissues were identified by determining ABO genotype, STR type and mitochondrial DNA type. The system we employed enabled an accurate typing of many fragmentary samples in a short time, thus contributing to the fast and secure identification of many victims in such cases as big air accidents.