I noticed that happening quite a lot in San Andreas, although not too
much in previous games.

In Vice City Stories, and in quite specific locations, pedestrians
often spawn with only their upper half above the ground.

Cap them in the head and they can't physically fall over, so you're
left with a corpse that looks like he's been interred by a rookie
gravedigger.

Cheers,
Rob

"Do sugar cubes have dots or is that a dice I just put in my tea?"

To the world you are somebody, but to somebody you are the world.