Morti collettive da incendio di veicolo militare: proposta di linee guida per l’indagine medico-legale

The determination of the cause of death and identification of the victims of military transport fires connote particular problems that are to be faced by following standardised procedures with respect to a correct methodological approach and using logistics structures that are suitable for the type of examinations to be executed. In events of the case in point, the risk of the explosion of combustibile materials, which make up the weaponry of the vehicle and the equipment of the individual military personnel involved, which have not detonated despite the fire and are therefore still present at the scene of the disaster, overlaps the usual operative difficulties linked to sizeable alterations in the cadavers (carbonisation, mutilations, etc.) or places. Clearing the area to be inspected of both the burned out vehicle and the remians of cadavers to examined appears to be an indispenaable, prelimnary operation. To complete inspection operations, also meant to recover any items useful in identifying the victims, investigation must proceed by means of a qualified team of experts in the specific sector (forensic pathologists, dentists, radiologists, anthropologists, hematologists, finger-footprint specialists, forensic photographers) in a cenrre provided with equipment for performing the necessary assessments and verifications (Xray machines, post mortem tables, refrigeration compartments, etc.) in order to obtain the most acurate representation of the total injuries of each victim. Thi also contributes to reconstructing the dynamics and the nature of the event. For military personnel from foreign contingents, a special workstation must also be provided which is alocated to procedures for embalming the remains, assuming that the coffins of the victims will be exposed to a military honours ceremony. To exemplify the complexity of the investigation and problems pertaining to this type of event, the AA describe the procedures employed at Dover Air Force Base (Dealware, USA) during the examination of the remains of 19 marines who died in Marana (Arizona) in April 2000, following the precipitation and consequent explosion of a military helicopter (MV22 Osprey) which occurred during an exercise.