ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Published Online: 1 March 2002
Page Count: 4

An Unusual Oxidation Type on Bulb Filament after a Car Crash Dive
Vayne, F
Forensic Scientist, Institut de Recherche Criminelle de la Gendarmerie Nationale,

Baudoin, P
Assistant Director, former head of Microanalysis Department, Institut de Recherche Criminelle de la Gendarmerie Nationale,

Lavabre, R
Forensic Scientist, Institut de Recherche Criminelle de la Gendarmerie Nationale,

(Received 20 November 2002; accepted 14 November 2001)

Abstract

A car with two dead bodies trapped inside was discovered in a gravel pit. The main hypothesis of investigators was a traffic accident simulation by night. Examination of a broken lightbulb revealed both a rather unusual oxidation type and small rounded cavities never reported before. Tests were performed and allowed forensic scientists to establish that the lightbulbs were switched on during the crash dive, in contrast with the investigators idea.

Keywords:
forensic science, criminalistics, bulb filaments, scanning electron microscopy, oxidation type

Paper ID: JFS15261J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS15261J
ASTM International is a member of CrossRef.