ABSTRACT
During one year study period medico legal autopsies were conducted on 950 cases of fatal road traffic accidents at the mortuary of SRN Hospital, MLN Medical College, Allahabad. M/F ratio 3:1. 33.68% of cases were in the age group of 25-44 years. Pedestrians were most vulnerable accounting for 35.79% of total fatalities followed by motorized two wheelers 30.53%. Heavy Vehicles were found to be mostly involved 58.52% of cases and most accidents 83.05% occurred on highways. Majority of cases sustained multiple injuries. Primary impact injuries were recorded in 455 cases and pedestrians 36.26% were mostly affected followed by pedal cyclists 20.88%. 505 cases sustained secondary impact injuries and pedestrians and motor cyclists were primarily involved. Of 697 secondary injuries, 29.99% were sustained by motorcyclists followed by pediastrians 22.67%. Mostly lower extremities 27.39% and pelvis 25.99% received the primary impacts; the head and neck 55.62% the secondary impacts, while secondary injuries were mostly located in the lower extremities 28.38%. Largest number of injuries were recorded in lower extremities 804 number, followed by head & neck 748 number. Vehicle occupants mostly sustained thoracic injuries. In majority of cases, the site of initial impact of the responsible vehicle was frontal (45.14%) followed by rear (25.83%) and side (7.01%). In 179 cases (22.02%) site of responsible vehicle were not known.