Jun. 17, 2025
Analysis of Damage Characteristics in a Fatality Caused by Rock Impact
CHEN Jiaxiang, ZENG Yongpan, ZOU Kang, DENG Aisong, ZHU Shugang
Analysis of Damage Characteristics in a Fatality Caused by Rock Impact
There are few cases of human death caused by rocks striking the human body. Generally, such cases occur in remote mountainous areas, lacking DNA, videos, and other direct evidence, so forensic pathologists play a crucial role in providing essential references for these cases. This article analyzes the injuries resulting from a fatal case in which a massive rock struck a person’s right upper arm and right pars lumbalis. It can be found that the rocks caused irregular longitudinal pectinate exfoliation on the posterolateral right upper arm, irregular fusiform lacerations, transverse cuneiform humeral fracture, multiple inward-type rib fractures in the right axillary segment, penetrating lacerations in the right lung. The authors sort out injury characteristics, summarize the injury mechanisms, and distinguish them from injuries with similar features, such as those caused by high falling and traffic accidents. The purpose is to provide an analytical framework for similar injury cases and then serve as a basis for forensic examination.
struck by rock / autopsy examination / crime scene investigation / mechanism of injury / manner of death {{custom_keyword}} /
Fig.1 Rocks and traces on the highway (a: |
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Fig.1 Rocks and traces on the highway (a: scrapes on the highway 5.6 meters from the south of guardrails; from south to north; b: the A-side of the rock: bounded by a transverse crack, injury-causing rocks; rock fragments scattered on the highway；c: the B-side of the rock: bounded by a longitudinal crack, the other half of the rock 99.5 meters from the top of the mountain to the south of guardrails; injury-causing rocks)Fig.2 Photos of corpse（a: position; b: contusions on the right upper arm, lacerations on the right upper arm；c: contusions on the right pars lumbalis, subcutaneous flap）Fig.3 Photos of anatomy (a: lacerations in the right lung；b: lacerations in the right liver；c: cuneiform fracture of the right humerus)/
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scrapes on the highway 5.6 meters from the south of guardrails; 
from south to north; b: the A-side of the rock: bounded by a transverse crack, 
injury-causing rocks; 
rock fragments scattered on the highway；c: the B-side of the rock: bounded by a longitudinal crack, 
the other half of the rock 99.5 meters from the top of the mountain to the south of guardrails; 
injury-causing rocks)
示距护栏南侧5.6m处公路地面上划擦痕， 
示由南向北走行；b：现场山石A面，以横行裂缝为界， 
示2号致伤山石， 
示1号公路上散落山石碎片；c：山石B面，以纵行裂缝为界， 
示3号现场公路护栏南侧山顶99.5m脱落处另一半石块, 
示2号致伤山石）
contusions on the right upper arm, 
lacerations on the right upper arm；c: 
contusions on the right pars lumbalis, 
subcutaneous flap）
示右上臂挫擦伤， 
示挫裂伤；c： 
示右腰部挫擦伤， 
示皮瓣下翻）
