[Fatal pleasure trip--the "covered wagon catastrophe"].

Abstract

17 rentiers from Hamburg took part in a trip with a covered wagon in the Siegerland. In a rugged field-path a screw in the bottom of the wagon, which was deficiently reconstructed, got loose. One of the benches tipped down so that the passengers who sat there fell backwards on the path and were covered by the rack, the lattice and the tilt. 6 persons in the age from 76 to 85 years died in the scene of accident. 3 others sustained contusions. The autopsy of the victims showed no signs of external violence, especially fractures of bones and no internal injuries. There were only found asphyctic petechial bleedings in the conjunctiva, partly in the mucous membrane of the mouth, in the facial region and the body. The internal findings corresponded to the age. The cause of death was an external, mechanical hindering of respiration because of the chest compression by the heavy wreckage.