In December of 2005, a 64-year-old part-time truck operator died when his clothing became entangled in the drive train of a semi-truck tractor. Upon discovering that the brakes of the truck were frozen and would not release, the victim crawled under the truck to free the brakes using a hammer and metal rod. The truck had automatic transmission and was left running and in gear without the parking brake set. Once the brakes were released, the drive shaft began turning and the truck moved forward. The movement of the truck caused the victim's hooded sweatshirt to become entangled in the spinning drive shaft. The sweatshirt tightened around the victim's neck and chest leading to asphyxiation. First responders cut the victim free from the entanglement and began resuscitation, which was terminated on scene without transporting patient to ER. Upon completion of an autopsy, the Medical Examiner identified the cause of death as 'traumatic asphyxia due to chest and neck compression.'


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    Title :

    Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) Report for Iowa: Truck Driver Entangled in Drive Train While Freeing Seized Brakes, FACE-05-IA-086


    Publication date :

    2010


    Size :

    6 pages


    Type of media :

    Report


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English