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SECTION: 609 TRAFFIC ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION

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SECTION: 609

TITLE:     TRAFFIC ACCIDENT INVESTIGATIONS

EFFECTIVE DATE:  February 15, 2017

 

 

  1. PURPOSE:

 

 To provide guidelines for the assisting and/or investigating of traffic crashes.

 

  1. POLICY:

 

Since the majority of traffic crashes which occur on state highways and parish roads are investigated by the Louisiana State Police, the deputy's primary function at most accident scenes is to assist the Investigating Trooper.

 

These primary functions include:

 

  1. Rendering first aid to the victim(s);

 

  1. Assisting with the traffic moving through the crash site; and

 

  1. Assisting the Investigating Trooper with measurements and other investigatory duties. Deputies assigned to investigate other motor vehicle crashes, such as those occurring on private property or public roads, will complete all required departmental and state reports following the guidelines set forth below.

 

It is the policy of the Evangeline Parish Sheriff's Office to dispatch deputies to crashes involving death or serious injury, hit and run, where damage to public vehicles or property is involved, disputes between principles, where major traffic problems result, suspected D.W.I.. activity, where a vehicle is damaged to the extent towing is required and all other reportable situations. Those crashes where a Louisiana State Trooper will be conducting the investigation, the deputy will respond to and assist the Trooper if the situation warrants it.

 

III. PROCEDURE:

 

  1. All Crashes:

 

  1. On arrival, if the Louisiana State Police are not there, the deputy must take control of the scene by:

 

 positioning the Sheriff's Unit in a manner that provides the best protection of the scene, assessing the scene for hazards, and identifying any injured victims and providing emergency first aid as needed.

 

Notifying Communications of the situation and requesting additional traffic support units, medical, or fire assistance as needed.

 

 

  1. Ensuring that scene access is available for other emergency vehicles and the positioning of flares/cones as needed.

 

  1. Maintaining a flow of traffic, if possible, and assuring that spectators and their vehicles do not interfere with persons or vehicles properly engaged at the scene.

 

  1. The first arriving deputy shall be in charge of the crash scene until such time as the investigating agency or another officer arrives to handle the incident.

 

  1. At any crashes, the first deputy to arrive will conduct the investigation and will be responsible for charge of that scene until he/she is either relieved or the investigation is completed scene investigation by deputies investigating crashes:

 

Determine the apparent severity of the crash and the proper Crash Report Form to be completed. Crashes resulting in personal injury/fatality, damage in excess of $500.00, hit and run, impairment due to drugs or alcohol, and/or reckless driving shall be completed on the standard State of Louisiana Uniform Motor Vehicle Traffic Crash Report Form regardless of the location of the crash.

 

Maintain contact with the operators involved and obtain operators licenses, vehicle registration, and proof of insurance documentation. Operators should remain at the scene until the conclusion of the on-scene investigation unless they require medical attention. In those instances, the deputy should ascertain where treatment will be administered and remain there until he/she is able to contact them to conclude the investigation. As soon as possible, record the operators account of what occurred.

 

Make detailed notes securing sufficient information to properly complete the State of Louisiana Uniform Motor Vehicle Traffic Crash Report Form. In all crashes requiring a State Crash Report, hit and run, leaving the scene and incidents involving damage to state or parish property, written statements will be taken from all witnesses.

 

 In all non-reportable crashes, written statements may be taken at the deputy's discretion. Investigating deputies shall obtain sufficient information to be able to effectively testify in any resulting civil litigation. Operators shall be provided necessary information on all parties for insurance purposes.

 

 Record all facts relating to the conditions and physical evidence found at the scene. These should include measurements of tire marks, positions of vehicles/pedestrians, and a record of photographs taken if required in all Sheriff's Vehicle crashes or those involving fatalities.

 

Removal of vehicle and debris:

 

  1. As soon as practical within the scope of the investigation, the deputy must provide for the resumption of the orderly flow of traffic.

 

  1. Whenever possible, vehicles involved in the crashes should be removed from the scene by the owner or by a wrecker service requested by the owner. If no owner is present or no preference is stated, a wrecker service will be called in conjunction with current departmental policies.

 

  1. The investigating deputy will ensure that debris from the accident is cleared from the roadway by wrecker personnel or an appropriate state or parish agency.

 

  1. The fire department will be notified in the event of any hazardous spills and will be responsible for any necessary clean-up activities.

 

Follow up investigations:

 

  1. Upon leaving the scene of the crash, the investigating deputy should interview injured parties who were transported to the hospital. If the nature of the injuries does not allow an immediate interview, the deputy should ascertain from the physician the earliest time such an interview will be possible and conclude this part of the investigation at that time.

 

  1. If necessary canvass the immediate area of the crash to locate witnesses and conduct a further examination of vehicles involved and the scene noting condition of traffic control devices, roadway defects, etc.

 

  1. In the event that a vehicle is being towed away from a crash scene, and the vehicle's operator is unable to collect his/her personal items, the deputy will fill out an inventory form listing all property at the scene. The wrecker operator will then be required to sign the inventory form, and the vehicle and items released to the wrecker operator.

 

  1. Deputies may take essential or important items to the vehicle's operator if the deputy is going to see the operator to complete the investigation. In this case the vehicle owner will be required to sign the inventory form stating that the property was returned to them.

 

  1. Conclusion of investigation: The on-scene investigation should produce the principle cause(s) of the crash and the investigating deputy should make note of these conclusions. .

 

  1. If violations of law are found to be present, the deputy must note the same and may issue the appropriate summonses or arrest, if warranted. In fatality cases and/or any cases involving possible felony charges, the deputy must present the results of his/her investigation to the District Attorney's Office for determination concerning related charges.

 

Reports:

 

It is the responsibility of the investigating deputy to turn in all elated reports concerning the crash at the end of his/her shift to include: The Crash Investigation Report (if this report is to be turned in incomplete, it must be done so with supervisory approval, and must then be supplemented within seventy-two [72] hours, unless there are extenuating circumstances);.

 

 Offense Reports in the event of a hit and run, fatality, or leaving the scene of a crash; Summons;  Photographs, electronic photograph discs/cards or film which needs to be processed; Detailed reports concerning investigative findings for later prosecution when involved in felony or fatality type investigation; and Report(s) of defect(s) of the roadway, signs, or signals which contributed to the crash shall be noted on proper forms and turned into a supervisor on duty to be forwarded to the appropriate parish/county or state agency.

 

 Defects or hazards which present an immediate danger to safety shall be reported to Communications which shall notify the appropriate agency.

 

 

Crashes Involving Death or Serious Injury:

 

The deputy dispatched to the scene will take control of the investigation unless removed by a supervisor or other investigating agency who will conduct the investigation.

 

The Investigatigations should be notified if the initial on-scene investigation indicates causes of a questionable nature or if the Field Supervisor on scene deems their assistance needed.

 

When a victim has been pronounced dead on the scene by the appropriate medical personnel and has not been transported by ambulance personnel, the body shall be covered and the Coroner's Office notified. In all cases where foul play is suspected, the body shall not be covered. a. The body shall be moved to the Coroner's Office, funeral home, or hospital only at the direction of Coroner's Office personnel.

 

The investigating deputy should note the decedent's appearance including clothing and any visible injuries

 

The investigating deputy shall request from the Coroner's Office a copy of laboratory results of testing for alcohol and drugs on all victims of fatalities.

 

The investigating deputy shall notify, or cause to be notified, the next of kin as soon as reasonably possible. Such notification, if local, shall not be made by telephone. If outside the parish the law enforcement agency having jurisdiction shall be requested to make such notification.

 

Deputies should refrain from requesting vehicle registration or operator's license information via radio in the investigating of any fatality.

 

Hazardous Material or Chemical Spill Crashes:  

 

  1. The deputy shall attempt to identify by Department of Transportation placards or through the operator the contents of the vehicles containing the hazardous material.

 

  1. Notify Communications of the situation and request the fire department, giving as much information as possible regarding the hazardous material or chemical spill.

 

  1. Isolate the crash area of non-essential personnel.

 

  1. Avoid contact with any unidentified liquids or vapors leaking or escaping from the crash vehicle(s).

 

  1. Crashes Occurring on Private Property:

 

  1. Deputies shall respond to crashes occurring on private property when dispatched in the same manner as to crashes on public roadways.

 

  1. Upon arrival at the scene, the deputy shall eliminate any existing traffic hazards and, if necessary, request additional traffic units and medical fire assistance.

 

  1. Accidents on private property shall be deemed workable regardless of the amount of damage. These reports are usually made for the purpose of insurance claims.

 

  1. Crashes where the amount of damage exceeds $1000.00, a Standard Louisiana Uniform Traffic Crash Report Form will be used. Other crashes in which the amount of damage is less than $1000.00, Evangeline Sheriff's Office Complaint and/or Incident Form may be completed.

 

  1. Report Review: It is the responsibility of the supervisor on-duty to review the reports of all crashes when turned in by the investigating deputy.

 

  1. Equipment:

 

  1. Fire Extinguisher;
  2. Tire iron/wrecking bar;
  3. All appropriate accident form;
  4. Camera;
  5. First Aid Kit

 

 

  1. Expert and Technical Assistance: In crashes involving multiple fatalities, common carriers, or other situations a may warrant, deputies with the concurrence of the Senior Supervisor on-duty, request expert or technical assistance from the following sources:

 

 

 

  1. State Police Crash Reconstruction Specialist; and

 

  1. State Police Hazmat Response Team.

 

  1. Fire Hazards:

 

 The fire department shall be responsible for the handling of any fire hazard there may be present at the scene of a crash. Should a deputy arrive on the scene of crash where he/she notes a fire hazard present and the fire department has not been dispatched, the deputy shall request that it be dispatched immediately. At the time a request for fire service is made, the deputy should advise the circumstances involved.