J Forensic Sci, 2019

doi: 10.1111/1556-4029.14102
PAPER Available online at: onlinelibrary.wiley.com

PATHOLOGY/BIOLOGY; GENERAL

€
Kenan Karbeyaz,1 M.D.; Umit Sßimsßek,2 M.D.; and Ali Yilmaz,1 M.D.

Deaths Related to Tractor Accidents in

Eskisßehir, Turkey: A 25-Year Analysis

ABSTRACT: This study aimed to analyze deaths related to tractor accidents in Eskisßehir Province and characteristics of these cases to pro-
vide data and suggestions along with the literature. The cases involved individuals died due to tractor-related accidents were retrospectively
examined between 1992 and 2016 (25-year period). Demographic data related to the cases and crime scenes, characteristics of events, and
autopsy findings were evaluated. In the 25-year period, 61 individuals (88.5% males, average age: 48.7 years) died due to tractor accidents in
Eskisßehir Province, and approximately 45.9% of these accidents most commonly involved tractor rollover. Deaths due to tractor accidents will
be decreased by raising awareness among tractor drivers, preventing young individuals from driving tractors, not allowing individuals to drive
without license, making mechanical and physical features of tractors suitable for agricultural activity to be performed, ensuring their safety for
travel and use, and avoiding carrying passengers on tractors.

KEYWORDS: forensic science, tractor accidents, death, autopsy, Eskisßehir, Turkey, traffic accidents

Tractors are used in freight transport and agricultural activi-

ties. The majority of agriculture-related business accidents occur
in the form of tractor accidents (1–6). A study conducted in
Australia reported that 72% of deaths in agricultural activities
were due to tractor accidents (6). Accidents can occur in many
forms, such as traffic accidents, tractor rollovers, and jamming
(1,4,5).
In tractor accidents, the victims’ positions during the accident,
place of accident, condition of the vehicle, and scene findings
are significant parameters (1–21).
In Turkey, tractor accidents are mainly observed in locations
where agricultural activities are intense (1,5). Eskisßehir Province
is a city located in Western Anatolia where agriculture is an
important business branch. Eskisßehir is the 25th largest city of
Turkey in terms of population. While Turkey has a population
of approximately 81 million, Eskisßehir has a population of
approximately 900.000. Turkey is known as an agricultural
country. Thus, agricultural activities are important sources of
income in Eskisßehir as well. Tractors are often used during the
production and transportation of sugar beet, especially in
Eskisßehir.
This study analyzed deaths related to tractor accidents in
Eskisßehir Province. The objective of this study was to analyze
characteristics of these cases, share the data along with the field
literature, and provide suggestions in light of research findings.
1
Department of Forensic Medicine, Eskisehir Osmangazi University
Faculty of Medicine, Turkey.
2
Council of Forensic Medicine Sivas Branch Manager, Sivas, Turkey.
Corresponding author: Kenan Karbeyaz, M.D. E-mail: drkenankarbeyaz@
hotmail.com
Received 18 Mar. 2019; and in revised form 14 Apr. 2019, 10 May. 2019,
13 May 2019; accepted 20 May 2019.
Materials and Methods
In the study, the cases in which individuals died as a result of
tractor-related accidents were retrospectively examined between
1992 and 2016 (25-year period). Autopsy reports and forensic
investigation files were evaluated. In the unit where the study
was performed, crime scene findings, police investigation find-
ings, statements of the victims’ relatives, and evidences related
to the investigation were examined. Next, autopsies were per-
formed in forensic deaths. Investigation files contain information
about the autopsy and crime scene, photographs, statements of
the victims’ families and relatives, and, if any, witnesses’ testi-
monies, social workers’ reports, as well as other investigation
documents belonging to case-specific analyses. In this study,
demographic data related to these cases, including age, sex,
crime scene, time of occurrence, position of dead person at the
moment of accident, form of accidents, autopsy findings, injury
area, cause of death, and toxicological findings were evaluated.
Data were evaluated using SPSS 20.0 software, and percentage
analyses were made.
Findings
A total of 9813 forensic autopsies were performed in
Eskisßehir during the 25-year period between 1992 and 2016, and
3517 (35.8%) of the victims died due to traffic accidents. In the
25-year period, it was found that 61 individuals died in tractor-
related accidents and that the percentage of tractor accident
deaths was 0.6% among all forensic deaths and 1.7% among all
traffic accident deaths. It was found that 59 tractor accidents
occurred in the 25-year period; 1 individual died out of 57 acci-
dents and two died out of two accidents.
Fifty-four of the cases (88.5%) were male victims, and seven
(11.5%) of them were female victims. The youngest victim who

© 2019 American Academy of Forensic Sciences 1

2 JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES

died was 5 years old, and the oldest was 79 years; the average head injuries, and 18 cases (29.5%) involved isolated head trauma.
age of the cases was 48.7  27.5 years. Overall, six of the cases Head injuries occurred in the form of skull fracture, brain hemor-
involved victims aged ≤18 years and 17 (27.9%) involved vic- rhage, and brain tissue destruction; thorax injuries were identified as
tims aged ≥65 years, with the most frequent age group being hemopneumothorax, heart, lung, and large vascular injuries; abdom-
70–79 years (n = 12, 19.7%). inal injuries manifested as internal bleeding and liver, spleen, and
It was found that the most common deaths due to tractor acci- kidney injuries; extremity injuries occurred in the form of fractures
dents occurred in summer (n = 30, 49.2%), and the second most and large vascular injuries in the extremities.
common rate was found in autumn (n = 21, 34.4%). It was In 43 of the cases (70.5%), victims died at the time of the
recorded that 10 victims (16.4%) died during spring time. More- accident. It was found that in seven cases (11.5%), victims died
over, no deaths related to tractor accidents were reported during in the ambulance while being transported to the hospital; in 11
winter seasons. cases (18.0%), victims died during the hospital treatment. Out of
Accidents occurred most commonly in the form of rollover 11 cases treated in the hospital, it was found that, in three cases,
(n = 28, 45.9%). The second most common form of accident victims died at the same day of hospitalization; in 8 cases, vic-
was found to be tractor run-over (n = 13, 21.3%). Thirty-two of tims died in a period of 2–7 days after hospitalization.
the cases (52.5%) involved deaths of tractor drivers. Passengers Toxicological examination of the cases revealed that only two
died in 20 of the cases (32.8%), and pedestrians died in nine of patients had ethanol in their blood (43 and 50 mg/dL). Alcohol
the cases (14.7%). The distribution of the position of the victims or other substances were not found in the tissues or bodily fluids
at the time of accidents and form of accidents are presented in of other cases.
Table 1. Tractor rollover was the most common reason for driver
death (71.9%). Falling from tractors is the most common reason
Limitation of the Study
for passenger death (45%); pedestrian deaths were most com-
monly due to being run-over by a tractor (55.6%); eight cases In the study, information whether the tractors had mechanical or
occurred in the form of traffic accidents (13.1%); four cases physical defects, official documents, adequate mandatory vehicle
(50%) were due to collision with a lorry; two of them (25%) examinations were not accessed. Information about scenes was
were due to collision with a car; and two cases were due to col- restricted. Data loss may occur due to incomplete archiving.
lision with another tractor. In accidents involving material being
caught between the treads of the tires, in the engine or in other
Discussion
structural areas, all three cases (4.9%) involved victims who
were passengers. Among deaths related to agricultural activities, those due to
The distribution of age groups in these cases and their positions tractor accidents have an important place (1–8). In a study
during the time of the accident are presented in Table 2. In two
cases, the driver was under 18 years of age and did not have driv-
ing license. It was found that drivers mostly belong to 40–49 age TABLE 2––Distribution of age group and positions of the victim during the
group (25%), and passengers and pedestrians mostly belong to accident.
70–79 age group (25%, 33.4%). Among the seven female cases,
Positions of Victims
five (71.4%) were passengers and two (28.6%) were pedestrians.
None of the females in these cases were drivers. Driver Passenger Pedestrian Total
Accidents most commonly occurred in sloping mountainous
terrains (n = 29, 47.5%). Farmlands are identified as the second Age Group (years) n % n % n % n %
most common location where accidents occur (n = 16, 26.2%). 0–9 – – 2 10.0 1 11.1 3 4.9
It was recorded that one tractor accident (1.6%) happened while 10–19 2 6.3 1 5.0 – – 3 4.9
passing through a stream. Only three of the accidents (4.9%) 20–29 4 12.5 1 5.0 1 11.1 6 9.8
occurred on a road in the central district, and all other cases 30–39 5 15.6 1 5.0 1 11.1 7 11.5
40–49 8 25.0 2 10.0 1 11.1 11 18.0
occurred in roads and plots in a village or out of town. 50–59 4 12.5 4 20.0 1 11.1 9 14.8
When injury areas of the cases were examined, it was determined 60–69 5 15.6 4 20.0 1 11.1 10 16.4
that fatal injuries were most commonly located in the head area 70–79 4 12.5 5 25.0 3 33.4 12 19.7
(Table 3). It was found that a total of 42 cases (68.9%) involved Total 32 100.0 20 100.0 9 100.0 61 100.0

TABLE 1––The form of accidents and the distribution of the victims’ positions during the accident.

Positions of Victims

Driver Passenger Pedestrian Total

Form of accident n % n % n % n %
Tractor rolling over 23 71.9 3 15.0 2 22.2 28 45.9
Run-over by tractor 4 12.5 4 20.0 5 55.6 13 21.3
Falling of the tractor – – 9 45.0 – – 9 14.8
Traffic accident 5 15.6 1 5.0 2 22.2 8 13.1
Material being caught in – – 3 15.0 – – 3 4.9
the tires, engine, or other
structural areas
Total 32 100.0 20 100.0 9 100.0 61 100.0
 KARBEYAZ ET AL. . DEATHS DUE TO TRACTOR ACCIDENTS 3

TABLE 3––Distribution of injury area and type of accident.

Accident Type

Tractor Run-over by Falling of the Traffic

Injury Area Rolling Over Tractor Tractor Accident Jamming Total
Head 8 28.6 5 38.4 3 33.4 2 25.0 – – 18 29.5
Head, Thorax 8 28.6 4 30.8 2 22.2 2 25.0 – 16 26.2
Thorax, Abdomen 6 21.4 3 23.1 2 22.2 2 25.0 2 66.7 15 24.6
Head, Thorax, Abdomen 3 10.7 1 7.7 2 22.2 2 25.0 – – 8 13.1
Thorax, Abdomen, Extremities 2 7.1 – – – – – – – – 2 3.3
Thorax 1 3.6 – – – – – – 1 33.3 2 3.3
Total 28 100.0 13 100.0 9 100.0 8 100.0 3 100.0 61 100.0

covering 31 years in the state of Kansas, Haan et al. reported that
75.6% of the deaths related to agricultural activities occurred in
the form of a tractor accident (7). In the 25-year period, 61 indi-
viduals died in tractor-related accidents. The percentage of tractor
accident deaths in the period covered by the study was 0.6% in
all forensic deaths, and 1.7% traffic accidents resulted to death.
In a 10-year period study conducted in Portugal, it was reported
that 6.88% of all traffic accidents were in the form of a tractor
accident (8). In a study conducted in Konya Province, which is
located in the south of Turkey where agricultural activities are
frequent, this rate was reported to be 4.6% (5). Eskisßehir is a city
where agricultural activities were less frequent compared with
Portugal and Konya. In addition, Eskisßehir Province is in a
region that connects the major cities of Western Anatolia. For
these reasons, it is normal to observe that accidents involving
tractors were less frequent compared with other vehicle types.
In the literature, it is emphasized that tractor accidents more
often involved men (1–8). In a study conducted in North Caro-
lina, it was reported that males die in 98% of tractor accidents
(2). A study conducted in Istanbul reported that men died in
84.5% of tractor accidents (9). A study conducted in Elazı
g Pro-
vince, located in the east of Turkey reported that victims were
males in 85.7% of deaths related to tractor accidents (1). In this
study, it was determined in accordance with the literature that 54
of the cases (88.5%) involved male victims and 7 cases (11.5%)
involved female victims. In practice, it is seen that these men
are mostly tractor drivers or those who carry out agricultural
activities using tractors. In our study, all the drivers in these
cases were male (n = 32).
It has been observed that agricultural workmanship in Turkey
is decreasing since the number of young university graduates is
increasing. Most of the young workers are employed in industries.
In a study conducted in Elazı
g Province of Turkey, it was
reported that the age average of deaths due to tractor accidents
was 43.3 years old (1). Similarly, the present study revealed that
the age average of the cases was 48.7  27.5 years old. Most of
those who died due to tractor accidents belong to 70–79 age
group. In two cases, drivers were under 18 years of age and did
not have driving license. The lack of regular traffic control in
rural areas was the reason why individuals below the age of 18
and those without driving license are operating tractors. It is
thought that raising awareness about driving without license and
implementing regular traffic control will help reduce tractor-re-
lated accidents. Passengers and pedestrians were found to be most
frequent in 70–79 age group (25% and 33.4%, respectively).
Since agricultural activities are carried out more often in
spring and autumn, accidents in the field occur more frequently
during these seasons. Therefore, tractor accidents occur in spring
and autumn (3,5,8,11,12). In this study, deaths due to tractor
accidents were found to occur in summer (n = 30, 49.2%) most
frequently, and the second most frequent rates were found in
autumn (n = 21, 34.4%). It was found that victims died in 10
cases during spring season (16.4%). No deaths due to tractor
accidents in winter season were recorded.
The most frequent tractor accidents in the literature were
reported in the form of rollover (1,4,5,9,12–15). This was found
to be 54% (15) in a study conducted by Fulcher et al., and this
rate was found as 37% (5) in a study conducted by Do
gan et al.
Tractor rollover accident rate was at 45.9% in the present study.
This is due to the fact that most tractor rollover accidents happen
in rugged and mountainous terrains. In this study, 47.5% of acci-
dents occurred in mountainous terrain (n = 29).
It was determined that a significant number of individuals died
while traveling with a tractor (n = 20, 32.8%). In a study con-
ducted in Konya Province (5), it was reported that this rate was
43% (5), and 23% was reported in a study conducted in Elazı
g
Province (1). In all studies, it was stated that tractors were not
suitable for passenger transport and cannot provide balance to
passengers (1,5,12–20). In practice, however, it is seen that pas-
sengers are often transported in tractors and that it continues to
pose a danger. It is important to raise awareness among individ-
uals who drive tractors.
In the literature, it is reported that fatal injuries are most com-
monly located in the head area (1,5,12–19). Similarly, in the pre-
sent study, it was determined that 42 of the cases (68.9%)
involved fatal injuries in the head area. Like all agricultural
activities, the use of a protective helmet can reduce cases of
injuries or deaths when driving a tractor.
As a result, the findings of the study were found to be consis-
tent with the literature. Most frequently, fatal accidents occur
during spring and autumn seasons, in mountainous and rugged
agricultural plots, and in the form of tractor rollover. Men die
more often in these accidents. The most common injuries are
located in the head area.
To prevent fatal tractor accidents, it is important to educate
individuals who drive tractors. Allowing younger individuals to
operate tractors without driving license should be discouraged.
Mechanical and physical features of tractors must conform to the
agricultural activity, ensuring that they are safe for travel and use.
Passengers should not be transported on tractors. Protective cloth-
ing and gears, such as helmets, should be worn when driving trac-
tors. Furthermore, increase in the number of studies on the
subject is important to be able to contribute to the field literature.
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