Fatal injury from tire explosion during disassembly: A forensic case report

Cases of fatality caused by a tire explosion are extremely rare, especially during the disassembly process. Tire explosions can occur due to improper techniques during assembly or maintenance; however, serious accidents can also occur during disassembly due to the high-pressure air remaining inside the tire tube, as in this case. We present the case of a man in his 60 s who died after being struck by a tire rim due to a tire explosion during the dismantling of a large wheel and tire set of an airplane passenger boarding bridge. Autopsy revealed complex fractures of the head and chest, fractures of the thoracic vertebrae and upper extremities, and damage to multiple organs. A characteristic feature of this case is thoracic vertebral fracture, which has not been found in previous fatal tire explosion cases, suggesting that the injury resulted from a very large external force. This indicates that discarded tires still contain enough pressurized air to launch the rim, posing a danger equal to or greater than that of tire explosions during assembly or maintenance. This case highlights the importance of safety measures during tire disassembly. Although it is mandatory to use a safety cage to fill the tire with air during maintenance, no such safety measures were undertaken during disassembly. It is necessary to implement safety measures and provide equipment in the workplace to protect the workers. • We describe a rare fatal accident due to an airplane boarding bridge tire explosion. • This is the first forensic autopsy report of a tire disassembly accident. • Autopsy revealed complex head and chest fractures plus thoracic vertebral fractures. • Safety measures should be implemented to protect workers during tire disassembly.