Case selection: fall from height into water
Factors affecting impact:
(1) height of the fall
(2) orientation of the body: feet first, head first, horizontal (feet first most favorable)
(3) factors that affect impact (impact in a dive, area of body that comes into initial contact)
velocity in meters per second at impact (excluding air resistance) =
= SQRT(2 * g * (height in meters))
Conversion to kilometers per hour involves multiplying by 3,600 second/hour and dividing by 1000. g = 9.81 meters per seconds squared. Terminal velocity is not reached for most falls from bridges.
Cause of death may include:
(1) traumatic injuries
(2) drowning
Distribution of injuries:
(1) intra-thoracic (fractures of ribs and sternum, pulmonary laceration or contusions, pneumothorax, hemothorax)
(2) vertebral and pelvic fractures
(3) hepatic lacerations
(4) aortic rupture
Significant injuries to the head, face and larynx are typically absent.
