Policy Text
POLICY
135.0ACCIDENTS (AUTO) (TRAFFIC CRASHES)
REVISED: 11/2011 RELATED POLICIES:
Reviewed by Chief David Magnusson
4/2019
A.POLICY
It is the policy of the El Portal Police Department to investigate traffic crashes in order to
provide for the safety of motoring and pedestrian traffic and provide for the accurate
reporting of traffic crashes.
B.THE INITIAL OFFICER'S PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES ARE:
1.The care of the injured persons, administer emergency medical care and providing
basic life support.
2.The summoning of necessary support units (Miami Dade Fire Department,
paramedics, wreckers, etc.).
3.Traffic direction and establishing a safe traffic pattern around the scene.
4.The mediation of disputes between parties to maintain the public peace.
5.In the event of a death or possible death, notify a supervisor, who will respond to
the scene and subsequently have a Miami Dade Traffic Homicide Investigator
called out, if the supervisor determines it necessary.
6.Locate and interview possible witnesses and obtain names, addresses, and home
and business phone numbers of each. If necessary, statements may be taken at the
scene.
7.Protect the scene until the on-scene investigation is complete paying particular
attention to the preservation of any short-lived evidence.
8.The initial on-scene officer, whether they discover or are dispatched to an
accident, shall be responsible for the scene unless a Miami Dade Traffic
Homicide Investigator arrives to conduct the investigation. If a Miami Dade
Traffic Homicide Investigator is not necessary, the initial officer shall be
responsible for the investigation.
C.COMPLETION OF CRASH REPORT FORMS
The initial on-scene officer or another investigator shall complete Florida Traffic Crash
Report as follows:
Page 1 of 4
1.The Florida Traffic Crash Report Form will be completed in (TRACS) its entirety
on all traffic crashes in which:
a.The crash resulted in bodily injury to any person.
b.The crash resulted in death of any person.
c.There was a violation of any of the following statutes:
(1).Leaving the scene of an accident involving death or personal
injury.
(2).Leaving the scene of an accident involving property damage to an
attended or occupied vehicle or property.
(3).D.U.I.
2.Any traffic crash not meeting the above criteria will be reported on the same day
of the incident via the Tracs Software - Florida Traffic Crash Form
HSMV-90010S in its entirety.
3.Always include the color and model name of involved vehicles in the left hand
margin of the all Traffic Crash Report.
4.If a violation of law can be determined, a traffic citation shall be issued.
5.In all traffic crashes involving more than 1 vehicle, pedestrian, etc., a Driver
Exchange Information Form/Drivers Report (HSMV-90011S) will be provided, to
be completed by each party involved. If any person is unable to complete the
form due to injury, etc., the investigator shall complete the form.
a.This report shall be used as a Driver Exchange of Information when the
investigator called to the scene completes Florida Traffic Crash Form
(HSMV-90011S).
b.If a Traffic Crash Report is not completed by an officer because the parties
wish to handle the crash between themselves or it falls under the delayed
accident reporting guidelines, then the investigator will furnish each party
involved with a Driver Exchange Information Form/Drivers Report
(HSMV-90010S).
D.FATAL CRASHES
In case of a traffic fatality the following procedures apply:
1.A Miami Dade Traffic Homicide Investigator will be called to the scene to
conduct the homicide investigation.
2.The scene must be protected until it has been released to the Miami Dade Traffic
Homicide Investigator.
Page 2 of 4
3.AN A.O.A. Report will be completed by an officer prior to the end of the shift.
4.A Supervisor must be notified and will respond in the following circumstances:
a.Any police officer is involved in the accident.
b.A Village vehicle and/or on duty Village worker is involved.
c.The accident occurred during a pursuit.
d.It is a hit and run fatality.
e.There is a question of whether the incident is an accident or something
else, i.e. suicide/homicide, etc.
f.Circumstances indicate the accident might result in litigation involving the
Village.
g.The Miami Dade Traffic Homicide Investigator requests a supervisor.
E.COMMERCIAL VEHICLE SECTION OF REPORT FORM HSMV 90010S
This section is to be completed when the following criteria is met:
1.A commercial vehicle, having six or more tires in contact with the ground or a
vehicle with four tires having a hazardous material placard; a bus or passenger
van designed to carry 16 or more people, is involved.
2.And the crash causes any of the following to occur:
a.Fatal injury or injury that requires transportation from the scene to a
medical facility for immediate treatment.
b.Any vehicle involved sustains damage, other than a flat tire, sufficient to
prevent the vehicle from being driven away without repair or