Injury Analysis
This 15-day old, 4 kilogram (9 pound), 51 centimeter (20 inch), male was the right rear occupant of a 1995 Geo Metro. The case occupant was restrained in an infant safety seat with a detachable base. The infant seat was secured to the vehicle in the rear-facing position with the available manual 3-point restraint which had a free-sliding latchplate. The child seat was installed incorrectly because a seatbelt with a free-sliding latchplate requires either the use of a locking clip or the placing the seatbelt in automatic locking retracting mode. The seatbelt used to install this particular safety seat was not placed in automatic locking mode nor was it used with a locking clip. The case vehicle exited the roadway, struck a tree, and rolled over approximately four times. At the scene, the child was found on the back seat of the vehicle, out of the safety seat. According to paramedics on the scene, the car seat was still buckled into the vehicle after the collision, but the seat was loose. They seemed to think that the baby probably remained in the infant seat until just before the vehicle finished its rotation. There was also a tire jack and 5-6 bricks in the back seat of the vehicle. There was no reported loss of consciousness at the scene. The baby was crying at the scene and was transported to a local trauma center. The child arrived at trauma center fully immobilized on a backboard. Physical examination revealed a contusion on the right upper chest, a small chin abrasion, and a left parieto-occipital contusion. There were fragments of glass found in the child's diaper. Radiological imaging studies of the head revealed a non-depressed upper parietal fracture and hematomas at the left frontal and parietal regions. There was also soft tissue swelling at the left parietal area. The child was admitted for further observation.