Fatalities in Swedish fire-related car crashes from a toxicologic perspective

Area of Science:

• Forensic Toxicology
• Traffic Safety Research
• Vehicle Fire Dynamics

Background:

• Vehicle material advancements raise concerns about toxic gas emissions in fires.
• Understanding toxicological components in fatal vehicle fires is crucial for public safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze toxicological components in recent fatal vehicle fires in Sweden (2009-2018).
• To compare these findings with an earlier period (1998-2008) to identify trends.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective registry study utilizing data from the Swedish Transport Administration's In-Depth Studies Database.
• Comparison of toxicological findings (COHb, HCN, BAC) in fatal vehicle fires between two distinct time periods.

Main Results:

• The proportion of fatalities with elevated Hydrogen Cyanide (HCN) in blood increased significantly from 2% to 10% (p=0.006).
• Carbon Monoxide (COHb) and HCN were detected in several fatalities; 15 died from burns, 2 from toxic gases alone.
• Older vehicles were involved in crashes over time, with crash-year age increasing by 0.26 years annually (p=0.001).

Conclusions:

• An increased proportion of fatalities in vehicle fires exhibit elevated HCN levels.
• High alcohol, HCN, or COHb levels may have impaired victims' ability to escape burning vehicles.
• Recommendations include enhanced emergency responder training, on-scene antidote administration, and revised vehicle flammability regulations.