Accident Investigation Patrol Officer Responsibilities

Accident Call Initiated You should know… You should know… Location Location Severity Severity Whether traffic or highway is blocked Whether traffic or highway is blocked Make a decision on route Make a decision on route

Response to the Scene Determine if there is a true emergency Determine if there is a true emergency If yes, use lights AND siren If yes, use lights AND siren If no, respond quickly but within all rules of the road If no, respond quickly but within all rules of the road Adhere to all statutes: Adhere to all statutes: Follow all department policies Follow all department policies

Be Alert! Hit and run vehicles fleeing away from the accident Hit and run vehicles fleeing away from the accident Excessive speed Excessive speed Equipment malfunctions Equipment malfunctions Damaged parts Damaged parts If possible, call out 28 and description but continue to the accident if you are the primary officer If possible, call out 28 and description but continue to the accident if you are the primary officer

Arrival at the Scene Protect the scene Protect the scene Be close Be close Be alert for hazards Be alert for hazards Spills Spills Gases Gases Wires Wires Stay UPWIND AND UPHILL if there are potential hazmat danger!!!! Stay UPWIND AND UPHILL if there are potential hazmat danger!!!!

First Assessment Look around Look around Request additional… Request additional… Officers if Officers if There is more than one vehicle involved There is more than one vehicle involved Roads need to be closed and traffic re-routed Roads need to be closed and traffic re-routed Fire if smoke, spills, or hazmat exists Fire if smoke, spills, or hazmat exists Ambulance if people appear injured or killed (one ambulance for every injured person) Ambulance if people appear injured or killed (one ambulance for every injured person) Wreckers Wreckers Rescue Rescue

Care for the Injured This is the primary responsibility of the responding officer This is the primary responsibility of the responding officer Protecting the scene from secondary crashes must be done first Protecting the scene from secondary crashes must be done first Triage first, treat serious injuries first Triage first, treat serious injuries first Turn over treatment to EMS with a report Turn over treatment to EMS with a report

Determine if Hit and Run Obtain description of vehicle Obtain description of vehicle Use CYMBAL Use CYMBAL Get direction of travel and time of accident Get direction of travel and time of accident Description of driver and occupants if possible Description of driver and occupants if possible Don’t forget the license plate!!! Don’t forget the license plate!!! Send out ATL Send out ATL Preserve all evidence Preserve all evidence

Locate and Interview Accident Participants Interview all drivers, pedestrians, or other INVOLVED in the accident Interview all drivers, pedestrians, or other INVOLVED in the accident Keep them separated Keep them separated Ask each, “What happened?” Ask each, “What happened?” Get basic information from all (name, DOB, etc..) Get basic information from all (name, DOB, etc..) Keep an open mind Keep an open mind Tell each party that you will be talking with them again to follow up Tell each party that you will be talking with them again to follow up

Specific Questions Remember to maintain constitutional issues Remember to maintain constitutional issues Determine: Determine: OWI? OWI? Injured? Injured? Tired? Tired? Physically disabled? Physically disabled? Suicidal or other unusual behavior? Suicidal or other unusual behavior? Also ask: Also ask: Insurance information Insurance information Seat belt Seat belt Occupant identities Occupant identities

Interview Hints Interview separately Interview separately Do the interviews as soon as possible after the accident Do the interviews as soon as possible after the accident Question them regarding Question them regarding Their trip plan Their trip plan When they first perceived danger When they first perceived danger What he or she was doing just before the accident What he or she was doing just before the accident How fast were they going How fast were they going What evasive action if any, they took What evasive action if any, they took Condition of the vehicle Condition of the vehicle Look inside the vehicle later for evidence of Inattentive Driving or OWI Look inside the vehicle later for evidence of Inattentive Driving or OWI

Interview Witnesses Ask each of them open-ended questions Ask each of them open-ended questions “What happened?” or “What did you see?” “What happened?” or “What did you see?” Where were you Where were you What called your attention to the accident? What called your attention to the accident? How fast were the vehicles going? How fast were the vehicles going? Did you see brake lights? Did you see brake lights? Did you hear braking noise? Did you hear braking noise? Remember to get basic information for follow-up interviews and for court as most will be anxious to get going! Remember to get basic information for follow-up interviews and for court as most will be anxious to get going!

Check the Scene for Physical Evidence In some situations, the evidence may be disappearing so you may have to act quickly to preserve it In some situations, the evidence may be disappearing so you may have to act quickly to preserve it Skid marks Skid marks Straight skids Straight skids Shadow skids Shadow skids Other skids Other skids General vehicle crush General vehicle crush Debris on the roadway Debris on the roadway

Evidence continues Gouges on the roadway Gouges on the roadway Fluids Fluids Traffic signs and devices Traffic signs and devices Lamp examination Lamp examination Road conditions Road conditions OWI and drug use evidence OWI and drug use evidence

Specific Vehicle Evidence Contact damage Contact damage Induced damage (typically crumbling or broken glass) Induced damage (typically crumbling or broken glass) Vehicle equipment violations Vehicle equipment violations Brakes Brakes Lights Lights Tires Tires Light switch position Light switch position Airbag deployment Airbag deployment

Photograph the Scene Seriousness determines need for photos Seriousness determines need for photos Prior to vehicles being moved if possible Prior to vehicles being moved if possible Photograph Photograph Overall scene Overall scene Vehicle damage Vehicle damage Traffic signs and controls Traffic signs and controls Road gouges Road gouges Skid marks Skid marks Debris Debris Injured parties or bodies Injured parties or bodies Video record all serious or fatal accidents Video record all serious or fatal accidents

Measure the Scene Use the XY coordinate system Use the XY coordinate system Complete a field sketch Complete a field sketch Outline the roadway edges first Outline the roadway edges first Add vehicles final resting points (if known) Add vehicles final resting points (if known) Add skid marks Add skid marks Add other evidence Add other evidence Measure all evidence locations and roadway features including crosswalks, signs, ditches, shoulders, etc… Measure all evidence locations and roadway features including crosswalks, signs, ditches, shoulders, etc…

Clear Up Accident Scene Tow all vehicles Tow all vehicles Clean up all glass and parts Clean up all glass and parts Open road to traffic Open road to traffic Make arrangements to transport parties left without vehicles Make arrangements to transport parties left without vehicles

Take Appropriate Enforcement Action Arrest Arrest Cite party most at fault for the violation that most contributed to the crash Cite party most at fault for the violation that most contributed to the crash Almost all accidents should result in a citation for the party that was at fault Almost all accidents should result in a citation for the party that was at fault Remember to consider all factors in the investigation Remember to consider all factors in the investigation NOTE!!!! Don’t investigate accidents where there is a conflict of interest

Complete Accident Report Note the criteria for reportable accidents Note the criteria for reportable accidents $1000 vehicles (including gov vehicles) $1000 vehicles (including gov vehicles) $1000 personal property $1000 personal property $200 government property $200 government property Injury Injury Fatality Fatality Complete within 10 days Complete within 10 days Include diagram Include diagram Possible contributing factors are some of the most important fields… Possible contributing factors are some of the most important fields…

Questions???