Citation

Hirsch CS, Bost RO, Gerber SR, Cowan ME, Adelson L, Sunshine I. Am. J. Clin. Pathol. 1977; 68(3): 317-320.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1977, American Society of Clinical Pathologists)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

900066

Abstract

Eight people died in a traffic accident involving a tractor-trailer and ten autos. The accident caused a series of flash fires from ruptured gas tanks. Complete autopsies established that six of the victims died exclusively from thermal trauma; none showed an elevated blood carboxyhemoglobin concentration. Flash fire victims are exceptions to the axiom that elevation of blood carboxyhemoglobin is a sine qua non for concluding that a decedent recovered from the scene of a conflagration was alive in the fire.

Language: en