rachel.kytonen@ecm-inc.com
Even though suicides increased in 2008, the number of people who died as a result of motor vehicles crashes is the lowest it’s been in five years.
During the Isanti County Board meeting Tuesday, Sept. 1, Isanti County Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Janis Amatuzio presented the 2008 annual report.
Of the 161 deaths investigated in 2008, 40 required death scene investigations and 19 required postmortem examinations. Of the 142 natural deaths, 43 were in hospice care.
Amatuzio was pleased to report there were only three deaths as a result of motor vehicle crashes. There were seven vehicle fatalities in 2007.
“Our motor vehicle fatality rates are dropping because of better roads, better road design, seat belts and improved car design,” Amatuzio said. “Most crashes are occurring on dry days with beautiful weather...because on those days people feel a need for speed.”
Amatuzio said property damage accidents are more common during the winter months because most motorists do slow down during inclement weather.
Amatuzio pointed out Isanti County saw a slight increase in suicides this past year, noting there were four in 2007 and eight in 2008. Of the eight suicides, seven were male.
“We’ve seen a slight increase in the suicide rate that we haven’t seen in 10 to 12 years,” Amatuzio said. “It’s really a reflection of the impact of these hard, economic times. Hopefully with the economy recovering, the suicide rates will drop.”
Amatuzio said in suicide notes she’s seen, the victims describe how their home has been foreclosed, they’ve lost their job, they don’t have anywhere to live and feel they just can’t deal with life anymore.
Of the eight suicides, five men and one woman died of self-inflicted gunshot wounds, and two men hanged themselves. The average age of the victims is 47, and only one had blood alcohol present.
Accidental deaths
Amatuzio reported there were 10 accidental deaths in 2008, noting three involved motor vehicle crashes—in Stanchfield Township—and seven did not.
A married couple died on Hwy. 65 after their car was struck by a commercial truck, and a 56-year-old male died on a country road after his vehicle left the road and overturned.
Noting the deaths on Hwy. 65 near the Hwy. 107 intersection in Braham, Commissioner Larry Southerland asked Amatuzio if she would write a letter in support of making the intersection safer.
Amatuzio said she would, and noted road design is very important in regard to making intersections safer.
Of the seven accidental deaths not relating to motor vehicles, two were due to drug overdoses, one due to asphyxia and four due to multiple injuries.
They were the result of a fall from a tree stand, mixed drug toxicity, self-administered opiates and asphyxia and blunt force injury due to compression by components of a skid loader.
Amatuzio pointed out three of the accidental deaths not relating to motor vehicles involved elderly women who died due to injuries as a result of falls.
“What we are seeing is a lot of people getting older, not exercising and not moving,” Amatuzio said. “We need to continue moving if we can, and we need to continue to exercise and move 30 minutes or more each day.”
Amatuzio reported as such the case in 2004, 2005, 2007 and 2008, there weren’t any homicides in Isanti County and since 2005 there haven’t been any undetermined deaths, meaning there is no evidence that identifies the deaths as natural, accidental, homicide or suicide.
Amatuzio noted her office is required to investigate the deaths of all persons whose bodies are to be cremated, dissected or buried at sea; although the latter two methods are rare.
In 2007 there were 14 cremation approvals and 91 in 2008.
Amatuzio’s office also performed 19 autopsies in 2008. Autopsies are performed to document patterns of injury or disease when the manner of death is not clear following the scene investigation.
Amatuzio retiring
Amatuzio announced her resignation as the county medical examiner effective January 31, 2010.
She’s been a forensic pathologist for over 30 years and has been practicing her medical examiner system in the area for over 20 years.
Amatuzio said she’s obviously learned about the importance of life.
“I’m retiring because they’re other things I want to do,” Amatuzio said. “I’m very proud of the system I’ve created.”
Amatuzio feels she’s leaving the county in good hands, and introduced her colleagues, Dr. Quinn Strobl, forensic pathologist and Gary Alberts, who retired as vice president of Mercy and Unity hospitals in 2007.
“I feel I’ve leaving you in very good hands, and I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished,” Amatuzio said. “I encourage you to continue to support the system we have here.”
Due to Amatuzio’s resignation, the board appointed the Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office as the medical examiner for Isanti County effective February 1, 2010.
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