Fetal skull fracture from an automobile accident.

This is a case report of a fetal skull fracture that resulted in fetal death caused by a high-velocity automobile accident. As a 25-year old gravida 3, para 2, was pulling out of a driveway onto a highway, her car was struck in the left front end by a car traveling perpendicular to her vehicle. She died almost instantly from shock caused by massive injuries and internal hemorrhage. She had a fractured rib and multiple fractures of the pelvis as well as bilateral hemothorax and ruptured splenic and renal vessels. The fetus had depressed multiple skull fractures. The probable mechanism of fetal injury, as well as the influence of seat restraints on injury to the mother and fetus, are discussed.