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_______________________________________________________________________________ General Order B -21 1 of 7 Traffic Fatality Crash Investigations TEMPLE TERRACE POLICE DEPARTMENT GENERAL ORDER EFFECTIVE DATE 04/29/ 2005 FILE INDEX NO. B-21 SUBJECT: TRAFFIC FATALITY CRASH INVESTIGATION S INDEX AS: SAME AS ABOVE RESCINDS: REVISES: DATE REVISED: 10/05/2010 DISTRIBUTION ALL MEMBERS I. PURPOSE : The purpose of this Standard Operating Procedure is to establish guidelines and procedures for the investigation of traffic fatalities or traffic crashes with serious and/or possible life threatening injuries. II. SCOPE: All Members III. DISCUSSION: It is the responsibility of law enforcement officers to investigate and report all traffic fatalities. Information gathered as a result of a traffic fatality investigation is used as a basis for developing traffic laws, traffic safety programs, and the effective d eployment of manpower and the facilitation of a successfully prosecuted case, if warranted. IV. DEFINITIONS: A. Serious Injuries - Injuries where death is possible within thirty ( 30) days from the date of the crash. B. Traffic Crash Reconstructionist (TCR) - A memb er of the Temple Terrace Police Department who has satisfied the requirements specified in this directive and is appointed as a Traffic Crash Reconstructionist by the Traffic Fatality Unit Commande r. C. Traffic Fatality - A traffic crash where a death occurs within thirty ( 30) days as a direct result of the crash. D. Traffic Fatality Unit Investigation - An extensive and detailed investigation and report of a traffic crash involving any of the following: 1. Death or potential for a death within thirty ( 30) days. 2. A police pursuit in which the Temp le Terrace Police Department was actively involved and which resulted in a crash within the City limits. a. If the crash occurred outside the City limits , the local agency having jurisdiction will conduct the traffic fatality in vestigation . b. If the local agency refuses or is unable to conduct the investigation, the Florida Highway Patrol w ill be contacted to respond to conduct the investigation. _______________________________________________________________________________ General Order B -21 2 of 7 Traffic Fatality Crash Investigations 3. Any other situation deemed appropriate by the Chief of Police or his /her designee for an investigation to be conducted by the Traffic Fatality Unit. 4. The investigation and report may include vehicle mechanical inspections, written/recorded witness statements, reconstruction of the crash, scale diagrams, Medical Examiner r eports, toxicology reports, and other detailed information usually not included in a routine traffic crash report along with factual conc lusions to fa cilitate successful prosecution if warranted. E. Traffic Fatality Unit (TFU) - The Traffic Fatality Unit consists of the Traf fic Fatality Unit Supervisor, Traffic Crash Reconstructionists, and Traffic Fatality Investigators. F. Traffic Fatality Unit Supervisor - A Senior Traffic Crash Reconstructionist a ppointed by the Chief of Police as the uni t supervisor. G. Traffic Fatality Invest igator (TFI) - A member of the Temple Terrace Police Department who has satisfied the requirements of this directive and is appointed as a Traffic Fatality Investigator by the Traffic Fatality Unit Commander H. Traffic Fatality Unit Commander - A member of th e Temple Terrace Police Department Command Staff appointed by the Chief of Police to oversee the Traffic Fatality Unit. V. PROCEDURE: A. Responsibilities of the p rimary assigned and/or first r esponding o fficer: 1. The p rimary assigned and/or first responding o fficer to arrive on scene of a possible traffic fatality will: a. Administer emergency medical care/basic life support and summon additional assistance (e.g. ambulance, additional officers, Fire Department) b. Notify his/her supervisor that a TFI will be needed if there is a fatality or serious bodily injury. i. Extra consideration to notify the T FU should be given if a patient is transported by helicopter. However, the seriousness of the injuries should be the ultimate determini ng factor for notification. ii. Consult ation with the on scene paramedic supervisor may also assist with the decision to no tify the TFU . c. If a mem ber of the TFU is on duty they will respond to any crash where there is serious bodily injury or a patient is transported by helicopter in order to assess the scene and determine if further investigation is needed. d. Locate/identify drivers, passengers and/or pedestrians involved in the crash. e. If a driver exhibits sig ns of impairment, v isual observation must be maintained to ensure nothing is ingested and two blood sample s utilizing separate blood kits an hour apart should be obtained voluntarily or in accordance with Florida State Statute (FSS) 316.1932 . f. Check the organ donor status of any deceased victims . g. Protect the scene and all associated evide nce by the proper positioning of police and rescue vehicles and preventing access by unauthorized persons. i. Preserve as best as possible any short -lived evidence such as skid marks or fluids . ii. Do not allow parking on areas containing potential evidence. iii. Secure the scene perimeter to keep unessential/unauthorized personnel from entry into the scene. h. Establish a safe traffic pattern around the scene as soon as practicable. i. Locate and collect witness