Germany. On the afternoon of a bright day in early spring, a 69-year-old man was riding a motorcycle on a two-lane federal road. The dual carriageway was formed by the merging of a one-lane main road and a one-lane access road. As reported by witnesses on the scene, the motorcycle, after entering from the access road, was driving along the right lane, between a semitrailer and the right crash barrier. The semitrailer came from the main road. At a certain point, as the space between the semitrailer and the crash barrier was narrowing, the motorcyclist went off the road and fell. Immediately afterward, he was fatally run over by the truck. The semitrailer did not stop and drove away. The police suspected a “hit-and-run” fatality.
Fig.1 The victim was found prone on the asphalt near the right crash barrier (black arrow).
Fig.2 The motorcycle was lying on its left side (black arrow). An extensive area of the asphalt is smeared with fragments of bones, blood and soft tissue (red arrows). Tire tracks from the semitrailer traced a trajectory parallel to the right lane boundary line (asterisks).
The death scene investigation (DSI) performed by the police revealed the near decapitated body of the motorcyclist lying prone on the asphalt near the right crash barrier, almost perpendicularly to the direction of travel with the upper body facing the road and the lower body facing the crash barrier. The victim wore a biker jacket, a pullover, long pants, and a shoe on the left foot. The clothes were soiled with diffuse greyish-black dirt. The jacket showed multiple lacerations. The motorcycle was located a short distance from the corpse, lying on its left side, where an extensive area of the asphalt was smeared with fragments of bones, blood, and soft tissue. The right shoe was found separated from the body. Fragments of the motorcyclist’s open-face helmet, along with fragments of the back carrier of the motorcycle were spread over the road surface.
Fig.3 Tire tracks from the motorcycle traced a trajectory from left to right, ending on the ground near the right crash barrier (black arrows, rectangle).
On the right lane, tire tracks from both the motorcycle and semitrailer were found: tire tracks from the semitrailer traced a trajectory parallel to the right lane boundary line, which started 85 cm before the final position of the motorcycle and ended after a long distance; tire tracks from the motorcycle started about 30 m before its final position, tracing a trajectory from left to right, which left the carriageway and ended on the ground near the right crash barrier. Several days after the fatality, the semitrailer was identified. The driver stated that he did not stop because he realized neither the presence of a motorcycle on the road nor an accident.
Fig.4 Incomplete decapitation with severe damage of the head and exenteration of the brain.
Fig.5 Incomplete decapitation with severe damage of the head and exenteration of the brain.
Fig.6 In the anterior region of the neck, gaping skin wound (black arrow), gaping wound of the skin and underlying soft tissue (white arrow).
A forensic autopsy was conducted on the victim 41 hours after death. The following anthropometric measurements were collected: heel-to-shoulder length 155 cm (5’1″), remaining body weight 94 kg (207 lbs). At the external examination, a conspicuous scarcity of postmortem lividity and the following traumatic findings were noted: severe damage and flattening of the head with comminuted fractures of the craniofacial bones, exenteration of the brain and extensive lacerations of the scalp and face, gaping wound of the skin and soft tissue in the anterior region of the neck with exposure of fragmented cervical vertebrae and a preserved flap of intact skin that connected the residual head to the trunk, gaping wound of the skin and soft tissues in the left clavicular region, extending to the left upper thorax, multiple and mostly superficial abrasions as well as ecchymoses on the upper thorax, the upper back and both upper and lower extremities, some parallel stretchmark-like tears on intact parts of the skin in the left clavicular region surrounded by diffuse pinpoint hemorrhages and multiple pinpoint hemorrhages forming a cone-like area on the left side of the upper back extending to the left axillary region.
Fig.7 Stretchmark-like in the left clavicular region (circles).
Fig.8 Complete transection of the cervical spine at the level of the fourth vertebra (black arrow) and fracture of the cervical spine at a lower segment (white arrow).
The internal examination of the body revealed a complete transection of the spinal cord at the level of the fourth cervical vertebra. The upper part of the cervical spine, the skull with the brain, and the brainstem were completely destroyed and mainly missing. Further findings included multiple fractures of the upper trunk (sternum, ribs, left clavicle, both scapulae, cervical and thoracic spine), multiple contusions and lacerations of the heart and both lungs accompanied by rupture of the pericardium and a right-sided hemothorax, complete transection of the aortic arch and descending aorta as well as minor lacerations of the liver and spleen. Both lungs showed signs of moderate blood aspiration.
Fig.9 Multiple rib fractures and fracture of the thoracic spine (black arrow).
Fig.10 Multiple lacerations of the heart.
Fig.11 Sketch of the accident.
Toxicological analyses carried out on samples of cardiac blood, peripheral blood, and urine tested negative for alcohol, narcotics, and other psychoactive substances. Death was due to decapitation and exsanguination secondary to a run-over mechanism.
A technical expert was called in by the police for the inspection of both vehicles. As mentioned above, the semitrailer was identified and inspected only several days after the accident. Neither the tractor unit nor the trailer of the truck revealed any damage or traces of biological material. The motorcycle showed minimal damages, including scratches on the front fender and on the left anterior and posterior side as well as a breakage of the back carrier. Traces of blood and soft tissue were found on the motorcycle’s windshield and on its left posterior side. No dents were present on the bodywork. The technical assessment attributed the minimal damages on the motorcycle to the contact with the right crash barrier (probably with the front fender) and/or with the asphalt (probably with the left side and the back carrier), excluding a collision between the truck and the motorcycle. The speed of the semitrailer along the road section leading up to the site of the accident was estimated at approximately 60–66 km/h (37-41 mph).
Fig.12 Driving test revealed a blind spot created by the right A-pillar of the truck (asterisk).
Fig.13 Damage of the helmet after crash simulation test.
(See Fig.11) A: The semitrailer and the motorcycle were driving in the right lane of the two-lane federal road, at the same level and on parallel trajectories. B: As the semitrailer got closer to the motorcycle, the motorcyclist went off-road, reached the ground (green line) near the right crash barrier (blue line), and fell, separating himself from the motorcycle. C: The motorcyclist was run over by one of the right wheels of the truck at the level of the upper body.
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