Hypoglycemia as the Responsible Factor in a Truck Driver Accident Fatality
Sturner, WQ
Chief medical examiner, State of Rhode Island, Providence, RI.

Sullivan, A
Chemist, Rhode Island Department of Health, Division of Laboratories, Providence, RI.


Abstract
A case of hypoglycemia causing a truck driver to lose control of his vehicle and his resulting traumatic asphyxial death is presented. The incident was considered suspicious in spite of poor visibility, because an experienced, healthy operator lost control in the early morning hours after a relatively short (4-h) drive. The autopsy revealed no evidence of natural disease and the driver had no alcohol or drugs in his system. Although this is apparently a rare occurrence, the diagnosis of underlying hypoglycemia as the causative factor in a traffic fatality can be reasonably suspected and accurately made if appropriate specimens are properly obtained and tested. Legislation mandating the retention of antemortem blood specimens on all trauma patients will permit more accurate assessment of most chemical etiologies of traffic accidents.

Keywords:
“natural death at the wheel”, forensic science, hypoglycemia, motor vehicle accidents, pathology and biology

Paper ID: JFS284831016

ASTM International is a member of CrossRef.
Author Sturner WQ, Sullivan A Title Hypoglycemia as the Responsible Factor in a Truck Driver Accident Fatality Symposium , Committee on