In the 1950s, the audio of a car crash was recorded. In that crash, someone died and their scream can be heard at the moment of impact. For years, the sound of the crash was used as a sound effect.
One of the most famous uses was by the 60's musical duo Jan & Dean in the song 'Dead Man's Curve' (1963). The crash audio segment is cut up and repeated in bits and pieces, but at least one full repetition, including the scream, occurs in the song.
Tennessee Department of Safety ran drunk driving commercials during the holidays, a few years ago, that featured the crash audio as an effect. I emailed them and complained that the use of a dying man's scream in a TV commercial, no matter how noble the cause, was highly inappropriate. They agreed I also remember, there was a public statement/apology on the television, that they were going to cease using the audio. I don't think they knew the scream.
