Subchapter 61.2
TRAFFIC COLLISION INVESTIGATION
/GENERAL ORDER NO. 61.2
61.2.1 REPORTING AND INVESTIGATION
A. Pursuant to La. R.S. 32:398 crash reports shall be completed and filed for any crash that involves death, injury or property damage.
1. The Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office shares concurrent jurisdiction with the Louisiana State Police on public roadways.
2. Generally, the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office shall defer to the Louisiana State Police for crashes occurring on public roadways.
B. The Louisiana State Police investigates all crashes on roadways that result in death or serious bodily injury, involves Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office vehicles, trains, locomotives, hazardous materials, common carriers, commercial vehicles, and excessive property damage.
1. Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office deputies are free to investigate crashes on public roadways when the Louisiana State Police are unavailable or when an unusually long estimated time of arrival is anticipated. They shall complete crash reports consistent with the Louisiana State Police policy.
a. Consistent with Louisiana State Police Crash Report, injury codes shall be utilized as follows:
(1) “A” Fatality
(2) “B” Severe
(3) “C” Moderate
(4) “D” Complaint
(5) “E” No Injury
2. It shall be incumbent upon deputies to document and determine the authority of involved parties who wish to settle property damages between themselves rather than have a crash report filed.
3. The deputy shall have all involved parties write a statement indicating that the involved parties agree to settle among themselves and do not wish for the Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office to file and forward a crash report.
4. The deputy shall require the vehicle operators to write and sign the following statement, “I, name, do not wish for the Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office to file a Uniform Crash Report.”
C. Reports shall be filed and completed for hit and run crashes.
D. Reports shall be filed for crashes involving vehicle operators impaired due to drugs or alcohol.
E. Crash investigations involving hazardous materials shall be deferred to and investigated by the Louisiana State Police.
F. The Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office shall respond to and investigate crashes that occur on private property.
1. The official Uniform Crash Report shall not be used to document information from private property crashes. All crashes occurring on private property shall be documented using the old DPSSP 3116 Motor Vehicle Traffic Accident Report. Information shall not be forwarded to the Louisiana State Police traffic record’s section. The filing of the report in Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office records shall follow criteria for crashes occurring on roadways.
2. In all investigations, the deputy shall ensure that the involved parties are provided with the following information: name, address, vehicle information, insurance, and agent information of person/vehicles involved.
61.2.2 COLLISION SCENE RESPONSES
A. Emergency response may be authorized for death or serious injury crashes where the deputy may render necessary first aid and/or secure the scene to prevent additional crashes. Upon arrival, the deputy shall:
1. Properly position the patrol unit;
2. Render first aid, as trained;
3. Secure the scene;
4. Summon appropriate emergency services;
5. Investigate, or request the appropriate agency to investigate, the crash.
6. Record or secure “short-lived” evidence; and
7. Attempt to restore normal traffic flow as soon as practicable.
B. A hit and run crash shall not require an emergency response unless extenuating circumstances justify such a response.
1. Deputies shall attempt to locate vehicles matching the suspect vehicle’s description.
2. Deputies shall look for speeding vehicles, vehicles with damage, or vehicles that are taking evasive action, and scan parking lots (as suspects may stop to assess their own damage) while responding to the scene.
3. Deputies that encounter potential suspect vehicles shall attempt to apprehend the operator immediately.
4. Upon arrival at the scene, and after rendering first aid as trained, if needed, the deputy shall attempt to obtain the suspect vehicle’s description, direction of travel, and suspect’s description, immediately relaying this information to the Communications Center.
5. Communication Equipment Operators shall relay this information to all field units and law enforcement agencies in the surrounding area.
C. A crash involving an alcohol or drug impaired operator, unless otherwise dictated, by extenuating circumstances, shall not require an emergency response. Upon arrival, the deputy shall:
1. Secure the scene;
2. Render first aid, as trained;
3. Summon emergency medical assistance if needed; and
4. Focus on the impaired operator(s) to prevent escape, tampering with evidence and prevent them from harming themselves. It may require the deputy to restrain them for their own safety.
D. A crash involving public vehicles or property shall not require an emergency response unless dictated otherwise by extenuating circumstances. Upon arrival, the deputy shall determine the agency responsible for the public vehicle and ensure that proper notification is made to the agency.
E. Hazardous material crashes, with release or possible release, shall be an authorized emergency response. In responding to hazardous material crashes, the deputy shall respond upwind of the scene. Upon arrival, the deputy shall try to identify the hazard without causing undue danger to himself. Communications Equipment Operators shall notify the appropriate fire district and the Louisiana State Police.
F. Disturbances at traffic crashes between the principals of the accident shall be handled in the same manner as any other disturbance.
G. An emergency response may be required if congestion poses a hazard. Due to the unique configuration of two major roadways paralleling Bayou Lafourche the entire length of Lafourche Parish. Deputies are normally needed to direct traffic at bridges nearest the crash scene in order to minimize the development of hazardous traffic congestion.
H. Traffic crashes involving vehicles, which may need to be towed, shall be responded to in a normal manner.
61.2.3 COLLISION SCENE DUTIES
The first arriving deputy has important responsibilities that include, but are not limited to: providing basic or advance life support, as trained, until the arrival of fire/rescue personnel; identifying potential or actual fire hazards or other dangerous conditions so that appropriate action may be taken; summoning additional assistance; protecting the scene; establishing a safe traffic flow around the scene; identifying and interviewing witnesses and expediting the removal of debris, and the vehicles involved, from the roadway.
A. Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office deputies shall respond to all crashes. The first arriving deputy shall take command of the scene. The on-scene supervisor shall determine the investigating deputy and/or appropriate agency. The deputy assigned to the area of the crash shall be assigned to investigate if the Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office is in command of the crash, or until other agencies arrive.
B. Upon arrival at the scene of a crash, the deputy shall:
1. Position the vehicle to protect the scene;
2. Identify all parties involved;
3. Render first aid to the injured, as trained;
a. As a precaution, deputies shall wear protective gloves.
4. Summon appropriate assistance, whether it be an ambulance and/or local fire rescue personnel:
a. The deputy shall not assume that because someone is up and walking that they are not injured.
b. The deputy shall inquire whether or not all parties are injured, assuming a person is injured until otherwise noted.
c. Rendering of first aid to person(s) injured shall take priority over investigating the crash.
5. Properly document person’s behavior and demeanor at the crash scene;
6. If an injured person is being removed from the crash scene, the deputy shall attempt to obtain the person’s identification before removal.
a. Deputies shall not move any injured person unless the circumstances and nature of the injury require such movement.
7. Deputies shall exercise caution, be aware of metal, glass or sharp objects that may cause injury, and be careful of bodily fluids and blood.
8. In situations where injured persons are exposed in a way that it may invade their privacy, consideration shall be given to covering the person in a fashion to reduce visibility. If sufficient numbers of deputies and/or firemen are on the scene, they shall consider forming a human barrier with their backs to the injured person.
C. Upon arrival at the scene of a crash where hazardous materials are involved and/or a potential fire hazard exists, the deputy shall:
1. Identify all injured parties;
2. Identify potential fire hazards (sparks, power lines, burst gas tanks and natural gas meters);
3. Summon agencies and personnel qualified to handle hazardous material incidents;
4. Not allow smoking at the crash scene;
5. Attempt to eliminate all ignition sources (disconnect battery if possible);
6. Establish a sufficient perimeter;
7. Extinguish or have material available to extinguish a potential fire;
8. Immediately remove non-essential persons from the crash;
9. Determine the threat to injured persons;
- It is best if the injured person can remove himself from the immediate area of the crash scene.
10. The deputy shall try to identify hazardous materials:
a. Placards displayed on all four sides of the vehicle may aid in the identification of the material.
b. Whenever a deputy visibly sees a placarded vehicle/trailer container, the deputy shall attempt to identify and determine if there is an obvious release.
c. The deputy shall immediately summon the local fire district and the Louisiana State Police HAZMAT.
d. Take precautions to protect himself.
(1) The deputy should not enter the affected area until the threat has been identified.
e. Deputies have at their disposal a United States Department of Transportation handbook that identifies material carried in vehicles and the Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office Communications Center may provide relative information regarding the material being carried.
f. The deputy shall identify the carried material based upon the placard and other supporting documents available, including information provided by the driver/owner.
g. If there is an actual leak or discharge of hazardous materials, a supervisor shall be summoned to the scene.
h. Under no circumstances shall a deputy drive or walk through any hazardous material. He shall avoid the leak, spill, and/or vapor cloud.
i. The deputy shall establish a perimeter, if necessary, by stopping traffic and notifying the DEQ.
j. If the hazardous material goes into waterways, the deputy shall call for notification of the Coast Guard.
D. The investigating deputy is responsible for the collection of all information and to ensure that the information is accurate.
1. It is imperative, at a minimum, that the deputy interview all involved parties and witnesses.
2. Deputies are free to obtain written statements at any crash; however, they are required to obtain written statements regarding a complex crash with injury and/or with radical differences of opinion.
3. Deputies shall always attempt to verify information given to them with supporting documentation, if available.
4. The deputy shall assure that the vehicle insurance card matches the vehicle. He shall check for similarities/differences between the registration and insurance card, assure that statements are consistent with physical evidence, validate and/or verify information relevant to the crash.
5. Other evidence, such as physical evidence, shall be processed and collected as per Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office policy.
6. Deputies shall be aware that some evidence may dissipate quickly. Deputies shall ensure that evidence is identified and processed as soon as possible and/or protected until another agency arrives (e.g., Louisiana State Police).
E. Protecting the crash scene shall be of paramount importance. Proper positioning of police units is important to ensure that the crash scene is protected. Deputies shall select a location giving the greatest visibility to oncoming traffic and which protects the scene.
1. Tape may be utilized to cordon off a scene in addition to proper positioning of units.
2. If needed, the deputy shall request assistance of additional personnel to protect the crash scene.
3. Deputies shall be aware of other emergency providers and assist in the direction and positioning of their vehicles.
4. If a helicopter or ambulance is summoned to the scene, the deputy shall identify an appropriate place to park/land, and he shall direct them to the injured parties.
F. The investigating deputy in charge of the crash shall have the responsibility of controlling and collecting property belonging to the victims. Victims shall be allowed to take personal belongings or valuables with them if their vehicle is being towed. If the vehicle is to be towed a complete inventory shall be conducted and entered on an Impoundment, Seizure & Inventory of Motor Vehicle Record form. For items of great value, the deputy may issue a receipt and enter the property into evidence for safekeeping.
61.2.4 FOLLOW-UP INVESTIGATIONS
Follow-up activities may include, at a minimum, collecting off-scene data, obtaining/recording formal statements from witnesses, reconstructing crashes using expert and technical assistance, and preparing formal reports to support criminal charges.
A. The nature and severity of the crash shall dictate the nature of the follow-up.
1. A follow-up may include verifying and/or obtaining information that was not available at the scene.
2. The degree of follow-up shall be commensurate with the amount of information required to conduct a thorough investigation to properly complete the crash report.
3. The nature and degree of a crash shall dictate the nature of the follow-up where there are conflicting versions of the event with moderate or greater injury. For instance, hit and run crashes and unusual or complex crashes shall properly dictate a greater degree of follow up.
B. The deputy shall check the mechanical features of the vehicles.
C. If the crash occurs at night, the deputy may want to return in daylight hours to better inspect the location of the crash scene. If reconstruction is required, the Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office shall obtain services from an outside agency qualified to perform crash reconstruction.
D. Often times after a crash report is turned in, the deputy may be contacted by involved parties who wish to give additional statements or make corrections they feel are needed. If more than a typographical or spelling error has occurred, the deputy shall not change the report, but shall complete a supplemental report. Before the report is officially recorded, changes may be made or the report maybe rewritten if necessary.
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