Fatal cranial injuries caused by an electric angle grinder
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 8, 2026

Murine Model of Controlled Cortical Impact for the Induction of Traumatic Brain Injury
Published on: August 16, 2019
N Telmon1, J P Allery, V Scolan
1Department of Forensic Medicine, Rangueil University Hospital, Toulouse, France. telmon.n@chu-toulouse.fr
Abstract:
A case of fatal cranial injuries caused by an angle grinder is reported. The scalp lesions were typical of those produced by a cutting disk in a side-slipping movement. On the cranial vault were two bony losses of substance, one of which was deep enough for intracranial penetration of the disk. Signs of deflection of the disk, identical to those found on the scalp, were observed on the external bony table. Because of the circumstances in which the victim was discovered, in particular the damage to the machine which had a broken handle, and the lack of any indication of homicide or suicide, an accident is the most likely hypothesis.

