We performed a retrospective study of the injuries and characteristics of occupant fatalities in motor vehicle collisions in southeast Norway. The goal was to provide updated knowledge of injuries sustained in modern vehicles and detect possible differences in injury pattern between drivers and passengers. Forensic autopsy reports, police, and collision investigation reports from 2000 to 2014 were studied, data extracted and analyzed.

A total of 284 drivers, 80 front-seat passengers, and 37 rear-seat passengers were included, of which 67.3% died in front collisions, 13.7% in near-side impacts, 13.5% in rollovers and 5.5% in other/combined collisions. Overall, 80.5% died within one hour after the crash. The presence of fatal injuries to the head, neck, thorax and abdomen were observed in 63.6%, 10.7%, 61.6% and 27.4% respectively. All occupants with severe injuries to the head or neck had signs of direct impact with contact point injuries to the skin or skull. Injuries to the heart and spleen were less common in front-seat passengers compared to drivers. Seat belt abrasions were more common and lower extremity fractures less common in both front-seat and rear-seat passengers compared to drivers. Blood alcohol and/or drug concentrations suggestive of impairment were present in 30% of all occupants, with alcohol more often detected among front-seat passengers compared to drivers.

Few driver-specific and passenger-specific patterns of injury could be identified. When attempting to assess an occupant’s seating position within a vehicle, autopsy findings should be interpreted with caution and only in conjunction with documentation from the crash scene.

我们对挪威东南部机动车碰撞中的人员伤亡和乘员死亡特征进行了回顾性研究。目的是提供有关现代车辆遭受伤害的最新知识，并检测驾驶员和乘客之间伤害模式的可能差异。研究了2000年至2014年的法医尸检报告，警察和碰撞调查报告，提取并分析了数据。

总共包括284位驾驶员，80位前排乘客和37位后排乘客，其中67.3％在前撞中丧生，在侧撞时丧生13.7％，在侧翻时撞死13.5％，在其他/联合撞车时丧生5.5％ 。总体而言，事故发生后一小时内死亡80.5％。分别有63.6％，10.7％，61.6％和27.4％的人头部，颈部，胸部和腹部受到致命伤害。所有头部或颈部受到严重伤害的乘员，都有接触点对皮肤或颅骨的直接伤害。与驾驶员相比，前排乘客的心脏和脾脏损伤较少见。与驾驶员相比，在前座和后座乘客中安全带擦伤更为常见，下肢骨折较不常见。

几乎没有驾驶员和乘客特定的伤害模式可以被识别。尝试评估乘员在车辆中的坐姿时，应谨慎解释尸体解剖结果，并且仅与事故现场的记录相结合。