TRAFFIC ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION 231... · 2016. 1. 6. · Traffic Crashes: When possible, Members will be as-signed to investigate traffic crashes in the following order of succession:

Original Date: 11/1/2001 Page 1 of 12 Revised Date: 03/04/2015 SOP #231 File Name: SOP 231 - Traffic Crash Investigation.doc

TRAFFIC CRASH INVESTIGATION

DEPARTMENT SOP: #231 CALEA: 41.2.4

CFA:

23.01A,D-G, 23.02A-H, 23.04

EFFECTIVE DATE: 11/1/2001

REVIEW DATE: 03/04/2015

PURPOSE: To establish procedures for Traffic Crash Investigations.

SCOPE: This SOP applies to all Members of the Department.

POLICY: It is the policy of the Hollywood Police Department to provide emergency assistance to persons injured in crashes, to protect the crash scene, to conduct at-scene and follow-up inves-tigations, and to take proper enforcement action. Traffic crash investigations will be conducted in a thorough, complete and unbiased manner.

INDEX:

I. GENERAL .................................................. 2

A. Authority: .............................................. 2 B. Agency Response:............................... 2 C. Assigning Members to Investigate Traffic Crashes: .............................................. 2 D. Emergency Response (Code 3): ......... 2 E. First Responding Member: [23.01F,G][23.02A-C,E-H,41.2.4] ................... 2 F. Traffic Vests ............................................ 3 G. Traffic Unit: [23.01A][23.01E] .............. 3 H. Community Service Officers: ............... 3 I. Scene Supervision: ................................. 4

II. INVESTIGATIVE PROCEDURES .............. 4

A. Enforcement: ....................................... 4 B. Criminal Investigations: ....................... 4

III. COLLECTION OF INFORMATION AND EVIDENCE ......................................................... 5

A. Interviewing Drivers / Witnesses: ........ 5 B. Examining Vehicle Condition: .............. 5 C. Examining Road and Weather Conditions: ...................................................... 5 D. Photographs: ....................................... 6

IV. SEVERE PROPERTY DAMAGE, SERIOUS/LIFE-THREATENING INJURIES OR FATALITIES ...................................................... 6

A. Traffic Homicide Call-Out: ................... 6 B. Witness Documentation: ..................... 6 C. Scene Security: ................................... 6 D. Scene Supervision: ............................. 6 E. Next of Kin Notification ........................ 7 F. On-Scene Determination of Death: ......... 7 G. F.H.P. Notification: .............................. 7 H. F.D.O.T Notification: ............................ 7 I. Press Releases: ...................................... 7

V. CRIME SCENE UNIT .............................. 7

A. Photographs: ....................................... 7 B. Chain of Custody: ................................ 7 C. Physical Evidence: [23.02D,41.2.4] .... 7

VI. CRASH VICTIM’S PROPERTY [23.04] . 7

A. Securing the Property: [23.04]............. 7 B. Releasing Property: ............................. 8

VII. CRASHES INVOLVING INJURIES, FIRE HAZARDS, AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS . 8

A. Injury Crashes: .................................... 8 B. Late Reported Injury Crashes: ............ 8 C. Hazardous Materials: [23.02H,41.2.4][23.01E] ................................. 8 D. Fire Hazards: ....................................... 8 E. Supervisors’ Responsibilities:.............. 9

VIII. TRAFFIC DIRECTION AND CONTROL 9

A. Scene Security: ................................... 9 B. Extended Traffic Control: ..................... 9 C. Traffic Routing: .................................... 9 D. Notifications: ........................................ 9

IX. RAILROAD CRASHES .......................... 9

A. Guidelines:........................................... 9 B. Railroad Police: ................................. 10


X. CRASHES INVOLVING CITY VEHICLES OR CITY PROPERTY [23.01D] ....................... 10

A. Supervisory Responsibilities: ............. 10 B. Investigator’s Responsibilities: .......... 10

XI. TRAFFIC CRASH REPORTS: ............. 10

A. Florida Traffic Crash Reports Long Form: 10 B. Driver Exchange of Information Form: 10 C. Update Traffic Crash Report: ............. 10 D. Mobile Field Incident Report: ............. 11 E. Non-Reporting (N/R): ......................... 11 F. Completing Traffic Crash Reports ......... 11

XII. DEFINITIONS: ...................................... 11

A. COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE: .. 11 B. SERIOUS INJURY: ............................ 12 C. TRAFFIC CRASH: ............................. 12

PROCEDURE:

I. GENERAL

Members will respond to, investigate, and properly document all traffic crashes occur-ring in the City of Hollywood. If the crash occurs outside the City limits of Hollywood, the appropriate Agency will be notified to re-spond.

A. Authority:

Sworn Members and Community Ser-vice Officers are authorized to conduct traffic crash investigations.

B. Agency Response:

When a traffic crash occurs within the City of Hollywood’s jurisdiction, the fol-lowing responders will be dispatched:

1. A Police Officer or Community Ser-vice Officer, depending on the se-verity of the crash and the need for emergency response.

2. Hollywood Fire Rescue, if injuries are reported.

3. Additional support Units as request-ed.

C. Assigning Members to Investigate Traffic Crashes:

When possible, Members will be as-signed to investigate traffic crashes in the following order of succession:

1. Community Service Officers.

2. Patrol Officers.

3. Traffic Unit Officers (see additional responsibilities under Section I F).

D. Emergency Response (Code 3):

If injuries are reported, a Sworn Member will be dispatched in a “Code 3” re-sponse. Additional support will be dis-patched as necessary.

E. First Responding Member: [23.01F,G][23.02A-C,E-H,41.2.4]

The first Member arriving on the scene of a traffic crash involving damage to vehicles or property will perform the fol-lowing functions:

1. Park the Police vehicle in such a manner as to provide and maintain maximum protection of the crash scene, physical evidence, and all persons and vehicles. [23.02C,41.2.4]

2. Conduct a Hazardous Material assessment: Be alert for the pres-ence of special hazards including fire, chemical spills or gasses, elec-trical hazards and/or other danger-ous conditions. If such conditions exist, appropriate Agencies should be notified to respond. [23.02H,41.2.4]

3. Administer emergency medical care, first aid and/or begin basic life sup-port, if needed. [23.02A,41.2.4]

4. Summon Fire Rescue and additional assistance as needed (e.g., heavy rescue, additional Members, Wrecker service, etc). [23.02B,41.2.4]

5. Establish a safe traffic pattern around the crash scene. [23.02E,41.2.4]


6. Locate and interview drivers and witnesses to the crash. Record crash information. [23.02F,41.2.4]

7. Separate principals involved in dis-turbances or altercations relating to the crash. [23.01F]

8. Required Towing: When there is major traffic congestion or vehicular damage to the extent that towing is required, Members will expedite the removal of said vehicle(s) and/or debris from the roadway. [23.01G][23.02G,41.2.4]

a. Prior to moving vehicles, check with the assigned Crash Investi-gator or Supervisor.

b. If a wrecker is requested, the wrecker service personnel will be responsible for removing all vehicle debris from the roadway.

c. If a wrecker is not requested, notify the Teletype Unit to con-tact the Public Works Depart-ment or the appropriate utility company to remove any ob-structions and debris.

9. If the first responding Member is not the Member who will be investigat-ing the crash, he will remain at the scene until the investigating Mem-ber arrives.

F. Traffic Vests

All Members conducting traffic crash in-vestigations must wear their reflective traffic safety vests.

G. Traffic Unit: [23.01A][23.01E]

The on-scene Patrol Supervisor will de-termine the necessity for requesting a Traffic Unit Investigator. When on duty and available, Members assigned to the Traffic Unit are responsible for the fol-lowing:

1. Investigating motor vehicle crashes occurring within the City of Holly-wood’s jurisdiction.

2. Conducting parallel crash investiga-tions and/or Departmental Adminis-trative investigations occurring in Dade or Broward County involving Police vehicles or Police vehicle pursuits emanating from the City of Hollywood, only if the Agency with jurisdiction refuses to conduct the investigation. The Traffic Member will complete a Mobile Field Report for Departmental information. (See Police Vehicle Crashes SOP)

3. Investigating crashes involving seri-ous injury or death. [23.01A]

4. Conducting all follow-up crash in-vestigations, to include:

a. Any investigation assigned by a Traffic Unit Supervisor.

b. Hit and run crashes (see Hit & Run Crash Investigations SOP).

c. Drivers impaired by alcohol and/or drugs. (See DUI Detec-tion & Testing SOP)

d. Crashes involving City owned vehicles and/or damage to City property if serious injury or death. [23.01D]

e. Crashes involving hazardous materials (see Hazardous Ma-terials Section of this SOP). [23.01E]

f. Obtaining formal recorded statements from witnesses.

H. Community Service Officers:

Community Service Officers arriving at a crash scene who observe a physical or verbal altercation in-progress will imme-diately call for a Police Officer to re-spond to the scene. The CSO will not attempt to intervene in a physical alter-cation.


I. Scene Supervision:

The first responding Member to arrive at a crash scene will be in charge of the scene.

1. The Member in charge of the scene may be relieved by:

a. A Supervisor.

b. Another Member assigned to handle and complete the inves-tigation.

c. A Traffic Homicide Investigator.

2. The Officer in charge of the scene may designate specific duties to other Members at the scene, i.e., to aid in gathering witnesses, secure the scene, maintaining a safe flow of traffic and preparing supporting re-ports.

II. INVESTIGATIVE PROCEDURES

A. Enforcement:

Investigations at crash scenes will nor-mally result in detecting evidence nec-essary to support the issuance of crimi-nal citations, infraction citations, the fil-ing of formal charges or physical arrest.

1. Upon determination of a violation of law, infraction or Municipal Ordi-nance, the Sworn Officer or Com-munity Service Officer will take ap-propriate enforcement action.

2. A Community Service Officer will summon a Police Officer to respond to the scene if the enforcement ac-tion needed involves a criminal of-fense.

3. Before taking any enforcement ac-tion, the Member conducting the crash investigation must establish all elements of the violation. Ele-ments that the Member has not per-sonally witnessed must be estab-lished through investigation. The investigation may include:

a. Statements or admissions made by the violator.

b. Statements made by the wit-ness(s).

c. Physical evidence.

4. Members may elect not to immedi-ately issue citations at crash scenes if the violator was injured and trans-ported from the scene, and/or addi-tional investigation is required. In these instances, Members will re-spond to the medical facility to issue the citation and/or conduct further investigation resulting in the filing of charges at a later date.

B. Criminal Investigations:

When investigating a crash in which criminal charges may result, the Mem-ber will:

1. Obtain all information necessary to complete the Traffic Crash Report.

2. Inform the subject that you have completed the crash investigation and are now conducting a criminal investigation (D.U.I., etc.).

3. Advise the subject of his Miranda Rights.

4. If the driver is arrested, the same case number generated for the crash report will be used to docu-ment the arrest.

5. Officers, after completing their in-vestigation, will notify the Communi-cations Section and request two copies of the 911 recording for evi-dentiary purposes. Officers will be responsible for the following:

a. Deliver one copy of the 911 re-cording, along with the CAD printout, to the Property and Ev-idence Unit. Both items will be placed into property, as evi-dence, in the manner described


per the Property and Evidence SOP’s.

b. Deliver one copy of the 911 re-cording to the Records Section / Case Filing Unit who will assure it is included in the Case File forwarded to the State Attor-ney’s Office.

III. COLLECTION OF INFORMATION AND EVIDENCE

All information and physical evidence must be collected in a fashion that ensures accu-racy and admissibility in Court.

A. Interviewing Drivers / Witnesses:

Members will be guided by the following techniques:

1. Interview drivers and witnesses as soon as practical following the crash. However, the questioning may be delayed until the person has received medical attention, regained emotional stability, or has attended to other urgent needs.

2. Interview drivers and witnesses separately and individually concern-ing the traffic crash. Members will discourage drivers and witnesses from discussing the crash amongst themselves.

3. Observe the physical, emotional and mental condition of the person being questioned.

4. Interview witnesses as to their exact location when they witnessed the crash, what they were doing, what called their attention to the crash and what they saw, heard, or per-formed in response.

5. Determine if the witness can place the at-fault driver behind the wheel at the time of the crash.

B. Examining Vehicle Condition:

Members will conduct a thorough exam-ination of the damage sustained in the crash. Examination and evaluation of the damaged area should coincide with other evidence and statements as to how the crash occurred. The vehicle damage conditions are a very important aspect of evidence evaluation. This may be of significant importance in es-tablishing the circumstances surround-ing the crash and justifying prosecution for a violation. When inspecting the ve-hicle, the Member will:

1. Attempt to determine whether vehi-cle deficiencies contributed to the crash or were merely a circum-stance, which were present, but not a contributing factor.

2. Note vehicle deficiencies, which contributed to the crash, on the Traf-fic Crash Report.

C. Examining Road and Weather Condi-tions:

In examining the condition of the road, Members will be alert for any foreign substance on the surface (sand, loose gravel, oil, etc.), note the condition of the surface (dry, slippery, wet, etc.), and note the roadway markings for clarity or obscurity. When checking the roadway Members will:

1. Check the road for any obstructions to the drivers’ view, which existed at the time of the crash. This includes parked vehicles, glare, background lighting, foliage and structures (per-manent or temporary).

2. Check for the presence of traffic signs and traffic control devices and determine if traffic lights are operat-ing properly.

3. Record weather conditions present at the time of the collision to include rain, fog, smoke, etc.


4. Note any roadway and/or environ-mental conditions in the Traffic Crash Report.

D. Photographs:

In most instances, the decision to pho-tograph crash scenes will be left to the discretion of the Investigator. However, in the following circumstances photo-graphs are required:

1. Crashes involving serious or life- threatening injuries.

2. Crashes involving any City owned or leased vehicle.

3. Crashes involving damage to City property.

4. Crashes involving potential liability to the City.

IV. SEVERE PROPERTY DAMAGE, SERI-OUS/LIFE-THREATENING INJURIES OR FATALITIES

When the Member on-scene determines there is severe property damage or seri-ous/life-threatening injuries, the scene will be preserved until the arrival of a Traffic Homicide Investigator.

A. Traffic Homicide Call-Out:

If no Traffic Homicide Investigators are on duty, a Patrol Lieutenant will advise the Teletype Unit to call-out the on-call Traffic Homicide Investigator(s) and on call Traffic Supervisor.

B. Witness Documentation:

In the case of a fatal crash, witnesses are compelled to remain on-scene until the arrival of a Traffic Homicide Investi-gator. In the event that a witness must leave, the Member will properly identify the witness and document the following:

1. Name.

2. Date of birth.

3. Home address.

4. Work address.

5. Home phone number.

6. Work phone number.

7. E-mail address

8. Cellular telephone number.

C. Scene Security:

Members will treat all serious injury or fatal crash scenes as crime scenes.

1. The crime scene will be secured with crime scene tape and a crime scene log will be started.

2. Only Investigative Personnel as-signed by the on-scene Traffic Hom-icide Supervisor will be permitted within the crime scene.

3. Vehicle traffic will be re-routed to ensure the safety of personnel and the security of the crime scene.

D. Scene Supervision:

Upon arrival at the scene of a crash with life-threatening injury or death, a Traffic Homicide Investigator will assume re-sponsibility of the scene until the arrival of the Traffic Homicide Supervisor. The THI will advise the on-scene Supervisor of any need for assistance (i.e. scene security, perimeter boundaries, traffic control, etc.).

The THI will request the assistance of support personnel, as needed. Support personnel may include:

1. Additional Police Officers.

2. Crime Scene Unit.

3. Medical Examiner’s Office Person-nel.

4. Wrecker Service.


5. Fire Rescue.

6. Mutual Aid

E. Next of Kin Notification

If the victim dies at the scene of a traffic crash, Members of the Traffic Homicide Unit will make the next of kin notification either in person or with the assistance of an outside Police Agency. If the victim dies at the hospital, the attending physi-cian or social worker from the hospital will make the next of kin notification. Members of the Traffic Homicide Unit will then conduct a follow up meeting with the next of kin.

F. On-Scene Determination of Death:

Hollywood Fire Rescue will make the ul-timate decision if death has occurred. They will be responsible for monitoring rescue operations to ensure physical ev-idence is not unnecessarily disturbed.

G. F.H.P. Notification:

The Florida Highway Patrol will be noti-fied by the THI whenever a driver, pas-senger, pedestrian or bicyclist dies from injuries sustained in a vehicle crash.

H. F.D.O.T Notification:

The Florida Department of Transporta-tion will be notified by the THI when a Commercial Motor Vehicle is involved in a serious injury crash or fatal traffic crash.

I. Press Releases:

The Public Information Officer, or in their absence a Traffic Homicide Supervisor will issue a press release regarding traf-fic crashes that involve serious injuries or death. The press release will follow the guidelines outlined in the Public Af-fairs SOP.

V. CRIME SCENE UNIT

A. Photographs:

Crash scene photographs taken by the Crime Scene Unit will include the follow-ing:

1. Vehicle and identifying factors.

2. Areas of damage.

3. Physical evidence.

4. Point of reference.

5. Roadway.

B. Chain of Custody:

A strict chain of custody must be main-tained with all evidence. The Crime Scene Investigators will collect evidence at the crash scene as directed by the Traffic Homicide Investigator. Members will refer to SOP# 270 Property and Evidence.

C. Physical Evidence: [23.02D,41.2.4]

Members should be mindful of the vul-nerability of “short lived” evidence, i.e. fingerprints, blood, fogged windows, etc, and will make efforts to properly pre-serve and document such evidence or existing conditions. Members will not touch any equipment inside the crash vehicles unless directed by the Traffic Homicide Investigator.

VI. CRASH VICTIM’S PROPERTY [23.04]

Members who respond to the scene of a crash will take precautions to protect the owner’s property from theft in the event the owner is unable to care for the property: [23.04]

A. Securing the Property: [23.04]

The following procedures will govern the inventory, removal and storage of prop-erty:


1. Victim Injured: The victim’s proper-ty will be secured, collected, item-ized, and submitted into the Proper-ty and Evidence Unit for safekeep-ing in accordance with guidelines established in the Property and Evi-dence SOP.

2. Victim Dies On Scene: In the event of a traffic crash, in which the victim dies at the scene of a crash, the THI will take possession of all personal belongings and submit them into the Property and Evidence Unit for safekeeping. A copy of the Proper-ty Form will be placed inside the Traffic Fatality Investigation file.

3. Victim Expires Enroute to or at Hospital: If the victim expires in transit to a medical facility or in the emergency room of a medical facili-ty, the victim’s personal property, (cash, jewelry, negotiable securities) will remain in the custody of the medical facility, unless the victim’s property is needed as evidence for the investigation.

B. Releasing Property:

The following procedures will govern the release of the victim’s property:

1. The victim’s property may be re-leased on scene to a third party up-on the victim’s consent.

2. If the property is not released on scene, the victim may retrieve the property from the Department’s Property and Evidence Unit after complying with established proce-dures.

VII. CRASHES INVOLVING INJURIES, FIRE HAZARDS, AND HAZARDOUS MATERI-ALS

A. Injury Crashes:

Reports of traffic crashes with possible injuries require the dispatch of Holly-wood Fire Rescue. A Member arriving on the scene prior to Fire Rescue will

advise the Communications of the exist-ing situation and determine if Fire Res-cue is needed. The responding Member will administer first aid or needed medi-cal attention to injured persons until Fire Rescue arrives.

B. Late Reported Injury Crashes:

Late reported traffic crashes involving injury will be investigated immediately to the best of the Member’s ability.

C. Hazardous Materials: [23.02H,41.2.4][23.01E]

Members will always assess crash scenes for hazardous materials. In the event hazardous materials are present, Members should isolate the area and evacuate non-essential personnel. Members will be responsible for prelimi-nary hazard identification (spill, leak, fire) and identification of vehicle and container placards. [23.02H]

1. Investigation: The Traffic Unit will investigate traffic crashes involving hazardous material spills, when available. [23.01E]

2. Initial Response: The first re-sponding Member(s) should follow procedures pursuant to the Hazard-ous Materials SOP until such time that the crash can be safely and properly investigated.

D. Fire Hazards:

Members arriving at the scene of a ve-hicle fire prior to the Fire Department are responsible for the following actions:

1. Preserving life and rescuing occu-pants.

2. Providing basic life sup-port/emergency medical care and fire suppression services until properly relieved by Fire Rescue Personnel.

3. Facilitating the Fire Department’s response and directing responding


Police Units to appropriate locations for evacuation or traffic control.

4. Evaluating the situation and notify-ing a Supervisor.

5. Upon Fire Rescue’s arrival, they will be in charge of all injured parties and extrication. Members will ren-der assistance if requested.

E. Supervisors’ Responsibilities:

When a Supervisor is notified of a crash involving serious injuries, fire hazards, or hazardous materials he will:

1. Respond to the scene.

2. Confer with the Fire Department re-garding evacuation.

3. Evaluate the severity of victim’s inju-ries and determine the necessity of a Traffic Homicide Investigator’s re-sponse.

4. Determine if additional support per-sonnel are required.

5. Notify the Shift Lieutenant.

VIII. TRAFFIC DIRECTION AND CONTROL

The first responding Member will determine the necessity for traffic direction and control.

A. Scene Security:

Police vehicles should be positioned at the outer edges of a crash scene involv-ing extensive roadway obstruction. Flares or other channeling devices should be placed to direct traffic flow in conjunction with other lane control tech-niques. Additional Members will be re-quested as necessary.

B. Extended Traffic Control:

Supervisors will make arrangements to provide relief for Members performing prolonged traffic control duties.

C. Traffic Routing:

Major traffic congestion as a result of a crash will require the routing of traffic around the crash to protect the scene and the investigating Members. When routing traffic, the use of flares, traffic cones, barricades, or portable traffic control devices is encouraged (see SOP# 240 Traffic & Pedestrian Regu-lation Equipment). The purpose of routing traffic around a crash scene is to:

1. Give approaching motorist’s suffi-cient warning of the hazards ahead.

2. Provide a safe alternative route around or away from the crash sce-ne.

3. Provide a safe environment for Members conducting the crash in-vestigation.

D. Notifications:

When it appears that traffic is going to be congested or detoured for an ex-tended period of time, the on-scene Su-pervisor will advise the Shift Lieutenant and Communications. If the Shift Lieu-tenant determines that the prompt notifi-cation of the public is necessary, he will contact the Public Information Officer to provide the information to the media.

IX. RAILROAD CRASHES

A. Guidelines:

When conducting an investigation con-cerning a railroad crash, the following guidelines will be followed:

1. Motor vehicle vs. train crashes, which occur on a dedicated road-way, will be reported on a Florida Traffic Crash Report and will be handled by the Traffic Unit.

2. All other railroad crashes will be documented on a Mobile Field Re-port and classified as “Other”.


3. The Investigative Services Section will investigate all non-motor vehicle involved crashes, where the victim is either seriously or fatally injured.

B. Railroad Police:

When investigating a railroad crash, the Investigator will make contact with the Railroad Police Investigator who re-sponds to the scene and obtain the fol-lowing information:

1. Name of the Engineer and Conduc-tor.

2. Train movement number.

3. The number of train cars excluding the engine.

4. The number of train engines used and their individual assigned num-bers.

X. CRASHES INVOLVING CITY VEHICLES OR CITY PROPERTY [23.01D]

The following Section pertains to crashes in-volving City property and non-Police City vehicles. Police vehicle crashes are ad-dressed in SOP# 214 Police Vehicle Crashes.

A. Supervisory Responsibilities:

When a non-Police City vehicle has been involved in a crash, or City proper-ty has been damaged as a result of a crash, a Supervisor will:

1. Be notified by Communications. If the traffic crash occurs outside of the City limits, the Shift Lieutenant will be notified.

2. Will respond to the scene and notify the Shift Lieutenant.

3. A Police Officer or Community Ser-vice Officer will be assigned to con-duct the investigation.

4. Ensure the Crime Scene Unit re-sponds and photographs the scene

and all vehicles involved, regardless of damage or evidence of damage.

a. A Community Service Officer may be assigned by a Supervi-sor to photograph City vehicle crashes under the following cir-cumstances:

(1). Minor injuries, and/or;

(2). Minor damage.

B. Investigator’s Responsibilities:

Members assigned to investigate City vehicle involved crashes will complete HSMV Form 90003 (Long Form Traffic Crash Report) and HSMV Form 90005 (Narrative / Diagram).

XI. TRAFFIC CRASH REPORTS:

Members investigating motor vehicle crash-es, in which a report will be generated, are required to complete the appropriate State forms and must be completed in MFR. Handwritten crash reports will not be ac-cepted. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) Traffic Crash Report Form Manual will be used as a guide.

A. Florida Traffic Crash Reports Long Form:

Members will complete a long form when investigating all traffic crashes (see Appendix A):

B. Driver Exchange of Information Form:

The Driver Exchange of Information form will be completed and given to each driver for all traffic crashes (see Appendix C):

C. Update Traffic Crash Report:

This Form will be utilized for the follow-ing (see Appendix D):

1. When supplemental information is obtained at a later date.


D. Mobile Field Incident Report:

A Mobile Field Incident Report will be used in the following instances. The Member will title the report “Accident-Other”:

1. Railroad crashes, which do not oc-cur at an intersection with a dedi-cated roadway.

2. Crashes involving City vehicles, equipment and property where no injury or minimal property damage occurs.

E. Non-Reporting (N/R):

1. When parties involved in a traffic crash agree to settle amongst them-selves and decline to file a formal Traffic Crash Report, the responding Member will:

a. Obtain a Supervisor’s approval to N/R incident.

b. Enter all involved vehicles li-cense plate characters and driver information into CAD.

c. N/R will only be utilized in crashes where both parties mu-tually agree that a Police Report is not desired.

F. Completing Traffic Crash Reports

1. Must Include:

a. Date, time and location of crash.

b. Descriptions of the vehicles in-volved.

c. Name, phone number and ad-dress of all parties involved, in-cluding all drivers, passengers, and witnesses.

d. Identification of the vehicle in which each driver and passen-ger were located.

e. Names of the insurance compa-nies for the respective parties involved in the crash.

2. Diagrams and Measurements:

Members will prepare such dia-grams as may be necessary for in-vestigative purposes. If the vehicles are moved, Members will draw a di-agram based on the physical evi-dence and driver/witness state-ments. Crash diagrams are required on the long form and will:

a. Depict the roadway, vehicles, compass points, traffic control devices and other pertinent in-formation.

b. Include roadway, skid marks, and other measurements deemed necessary.

c. Identify drawing as “Not to Scale” or “Drawn to Approxi-mate Scale”.

d. The diagram will be drawn using a traffic crash template or utiliz-ing a computer drawing crash software program.

3. Report Submission:

Members will complete and submit all traffic crash related reports by the end of their shift to the “HWTC” folder in MFR. A Traffic Unit CSO will review each crash report for proper content.

XII. DEFINITIONS:

A. COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE:

Any motor vehicle or motor vehicle combination used on the streets or highways, which:

1. Has a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more.

2. Is designed to transport more than 15 persons, including the driver, or


is transporting hazardous materials and is required to be placarded in accordance with Title 49 C.F.R. part 172, subpart F.

B. SERIOUS INJURY:

An injury which consists of a physical condition that creates a substantial risk of death, serious personal disfigure-ment, or a protracted loss or impairment of the function of any bodily part or or-gan.

C. TRAFFIC CRASH:

A collision between a motor vehicle and another object resulting in damage or in-jury to a person or damage to property.

APPROVED BY:

03/04/2015

Frank G. Fernandez Date Chief of Police

ATTACHMENTS:

Appendix A: Florida Traffic Crash Report (HSMV 90003).

Appendix B: Florida Traffic Crash Report (HSMV 90005).

Appendix C: Florida Traffic Crash Report (HSMV 90006).

Appendix D: Florida Traffic Crash Report (HSMV 90004).

Appendix E: Florida Traffic Crash Report Commercial Vehicle Supplement.

Original Date: 11/1/2001 Page 1 of 1 Revised Date: Appendix A SOP #231 File Name: Appendix A Florida Traffic Crash Report, Long Form-Short Form HSMV 90003.doc

Original Date: 11/1/2001 Page 1 of 1 Revised Date: Appendix B SOP #231 File Name: Appendix B Florida Traffic Crash Report Narrative-Diagram HSMV 90005.doc

Original Date: 11/1/2001 Page 1 of 1 Revised Date: Appendix C SOP #231 File Name: Appendix C Traffic Crash Short Form, Driver Report or Driver Exchange HSMV 90006.doc

Original Date: 11/1/2001 Page 1 of 1 Revised Date: Appendix D SOP #231 File Name: Appendix D Florida Traffic Crash Report Update or Continuation HSMV 90004.doc

Original Date: 11/1/2001 Page 1 of 1 Revised Date: Appendix E SOP #231 File Name: Appendix E Florida Traffic Crash Report Commercial Vehicle Supplement HSMV 90007.doc

SOP 231 - Traffic Crash InvestigationAppendix A Florida Traffic Crash Report, Long Form-Short Form HSMV 90003Appendix B Florida Traffic Crash Report Narrative-Diagram HSMV 90005Appendix C Traffic Crash Short Form, Driver Report or Driver Exchange HSMV 90006Appendix D Florida Traffic Crash Report Update or Continuation HSMV 90004Appendix E Florida Traffic Crash Report Commercial Vehicle Supplement HSMV 90007

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TRAFFIC ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION 231... · 2016. 1. 6. · Traffic Crashes: When possible, Members will be as-signed to investigate traffic crashes in the following order of succession: