Accident Accident Investigation Investigation

Patrol Officer ResponsibilitiesPatrol Officer Responsibilities

Accident Call InitiatedAccident Call Initiated

You should know…You should know… LocationLocation SeveritySeverity Whether traffic or highway is blockedWhether traffic or highway is blocked

Make a decision on routeMake a decision on route

Response to the SceneResponse to the Scene

Determine if there is a true emergencyDetermine if there is a true emergency If yes, use lights AND sirenIf yes, use lights AND siren If no, respond quickly but within all rules If no, respond quickly but within all rules

of the roadof the road Adhere to all statutes:Adhere to all statutes:

346.03346.03 346.04346.04 347.38347.38

Follow all department policiesFollow all department policies

Be Alert! Be Alert!

Hit and run vehicles fleeing away Hit and run vehicles fleeing away from the accidentfrom the accident Excessive speedExcessive speed Equipment malfunctionsEquipment malfunctions Damaged partsDamaged parts

If possible, call out 28 and If possible, call out 28 and description but continue to the description but continue to the accident if you are the primary accident if you are the primary officerofficer

Arrival at the SceneArrival at the Scene

Protect the scene Protect the scene Be close Be close Be alert for hazardsBe alert for hazards

SpillsSpills Gases Gases WiresWires

Stay UPWIND AND UPHILL if there Stay UPWIND AND UPHILL if there are potential hazmat danger!!!!are potential hazmat danger!!!!

First Assessment First Assessment

Look aroundLook around Request additional…Request additional…

Officers if Officers if There is more than one vehicle involvedThere is more than one vehicle involved Roads need to be closed and traffic re-routedRoads need to be closed and traffic re-routed

Fire if smoke, spills, or hazmat existsFire if smoke, spills, or hazmat exists Ambulance if people appear injured or killed Ambulance if people appear injured or killed

(one ambulance for every injured person)(one ambulance for every injured person) WreckersWreckers Rescue Rescue

Care for the Injured Care for the Injured

This is the primary responsibility of This is the primary responsibility of the responding officerthe responding officer

Protecting the scene from secondary Protecting the scene from secondary crashes must be done firstcrashes must be done first

Triage first, treat serious injuries Triage first, treat serious injuries firstfirst

Turn over treatment to EMS with a Turn over treatment to EMS with a report report

Determine if Hit and RunDetermine if Hit and Run

Obtain description of vehicleObtain description of vehicle Use CYMBALUse CYMBAL Get direction of travel and time of Get direction of travel and time of

accidentaccident Description of driver and occupants if Description of driver and occupants if

possiblepossible Don’t forget the license plate!!!Don’t forget the license plate!!!

Send out ATLSend out ATL Preserve all evidencePreserve all evidence

Locate and Interview Locate and Interview Accident ParticipantsAccident Participants

Interview all drivers, pedestrians, or Interview all drivers, pedestrians, or other INVOLVED in the accidentother INVOLVED in the accident Keep them separated Keep them separated Ask each, “What happened?”Ask each, “What happened?” Get basic information from all (name, Get basic information from all (name,

DOB, etc..)DOB, etc..) Keep an open mindKeep an open mind

Tell each party that you will be Tell each party that you will be talking with them again to follow up talking with them again to follow up

Specific QuestionsSpecific Questions Remember to maintain constitutional Remember to maintain constitutional

issuesissues 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 informationInsurance information Seat beltSeat belt Occupant identitiesOccupant identities

Interview HintsInterview Hints Interview separatelyInterview separately Do the interviews as soon as possible after Do the interviews as soon as possible after

the accidentthe accident Question them regarding Question them regarding

Their trip planTheir trip plan When they first perceived dangerWhen they first perceived danger What he or she was doing just before the accidentWhat he or she was doing just before the accident How fast were they goingHow fast were they going What evasive action if any, they took What evasive action if any, they took Condition of the vehicleCondition of the vehicle

Look inside the vehicle later for evidence of Look inside the vehicle later for evidence of Inattentive Driving or OWIInattentive Driving or OWI

Interview Witnesses Interview Witnesses

Ask each of them open-ended questionsAsk each of them open-ended questions ““What happened?” or “What did you see?”What happened?” or “What did you see?” Where were youWhere 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 Remember to get basic information for follow-up interviews and for court as follow-up interviews and for court as most will be anxious to get going! most will be anxious to get going!

Check the Scene for Check the Scene for Physical EvidencePhysical Evidence

In some situations, the evidence may In some situations, the evidence may be disappearing so you may have to be disappearing so you may have to act quickly to preserve itact quickly to preserve it

Skid marks Skid marks Straight skidsStraight skids Shadow skidsShadow skids Other skidsOther skids

General vehicle crushGeneral vehicle crush Debris on the roadwayDebris on the roadway

Evidence continuesEvidence continues

Gouges on the roadwayGouges on the roadway FluidsFluids 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 Specific Vehicle Evidence

Contact damageContact damage Induced damage (typically Induced damage (typically

crumbling or broken glass) crumbling or broken glass) Vehicle equipment violationsVehicle equipment violations

BrakesBrakes LightsLights TiresTires

Light switch positionLight switch position Airbag deployment Airbag deployment

Photograph the ScenePhotograph the Scene Seriousness determines need for photosSeriousness determines need for photos Prior to vehicles being moved if possiblePrior to vehicles being moved if possible Photograph Photograph

Overall sceneOverall scene Vehicle damage Vehicle damage Traffic signs and controlsTraffic signs and controls Road gougesRoad gouges Skid marksSkid 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 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 firstOutline the roadway edges first Add vehicles final resting points (if known)Add vehicles final resting points (if known) Add skid marksAdd skid marks Add other evidence Add other evidence

Measure all evidence locations and Measure all evidence locations and roadway features including crosswalks, roadway features including crosswalks, signs, ditches, shoulders, etc… signs, ditches, shoulders, etc…

Clear Up Accident SceneClear Up Accident Scene

Tow all vehiclesTow 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 Make arrangements to transport

parties left without vehicles parties left without vehicles

Take Appropriate Take Appropriate Enforcement ActionEnforcement Action

Arrest Arrest Cite party most at fault for the Cite party most at fault for the

violation that most contributed to the violation that most contributed to the crashcrash

Almost all accidents should result in a Almost all accidents should result in a citation for the party that was at faultcitation for the party that was at fault

Remember to consider all factors in Remember to consider all factors in the investigationthe investigation

NOTE!!!! Don’t investigate accidents NOTE!!!! Don’t investigate accidents where there is a conflict of interestwhere there is a conflict of interest

Complete Accident Complete Accident Report Report

Note the criteria for reportable accidentsNote 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 InjuryInjury Fatality Fatality

Complete within 10 days Complete within 10 days Include diagram Include diagram Possible contributing factors are some of Possible contributing factors are some of

the most important fields… the most important fields…

Questions??? Questions???