10% of single vehicle crashes are ‘suicide bids’

As many as 10% of single vehicle road collisions could be suicide attempts, it has been claimed.

A report published yesterday by the National Centre for Treatment of Pelvic and Acetabular Fractures at Tallaght Hospital in Dublin said it was dealing with a rise in major pelvic injuries and related fractures because of the reported increase in cases of suspected vehicular attempted suicide.

Dr John McElwain, professor of trauma orthopaedic surgery at the centre, estimated around 10% of cases dealt with each year involving a single-vehicle collision with a sole occupant were suspected attempted suicides.