G10.2.1 Collision Reporting and Investigation
Chapter: Chapter 10: Traffic and Parking Services
Sub-Chapter: 10.2 - Traffic Collision Investigation
Effective Date: 05/29/2019
Revised Date: 10/04/2023
Rescinds: G10.2.1 – 2/8/2023
Purpose
To establish procedures for reporting and investigating traffic crashes generally, and specifically. Procedures and methods should be formulated to guarantee that the Indiana University Police Department (IUPD) can investigate and report accidents skillfully and promptly.
General Order
The IUPD will investigate all crashes within our primary area of jurisdiction as required by Indiana law, or as directed in this general order. This general order will differentiate between when only a report is required and when a detailed investigation is needed. This general order will include the criteria for determining the difference between the two as included in recruit and in-service training.
Definitions
Serious bodily injury – bodily injury that creates a substantial risk of death or that causes serious permanent disfigurement; unconsciousness; extreme pain; permanent or protracted loss or impairment of the function of a body member or organ; or loss of a fetus.
Traffic collision investigation – refers to the collection of factual information which includes identifying and describing persons, roads, and vehicles involved in a collision; describing the results of the collision in terms of damage to vehicles and roadside objects, injury to people, marks and residue on the roadway, and final positions of the vehicles and bodies; interpretation of facts in terms of behavior of road users involved; and sometimes, an attempt to specify the particular combination of factors required to produce that collision.
Traffic collision reporting – refers to the basic data collection to identify and classify a traffic collision and the persons, vehicles, times/location, planned movements involved, and possible contributing factors, such as traffic law violations.
General Procedures
Officers are required to respond to, investigate, and complete report(s) as appropriate for the following traffic collisions:
- Death or injury.
- Total property damage to an apparent extent of at least $2500.
- Hit and run.
- Impairment due to alcohol and/or drugs.
- Other criminal activity.
- Public or mass transportation vehicles.
- Involving any IU owned vehicles.
- Occurrences on private property or parking areas.
- If anyone involved in a collision requests a report for documentation reasons, regardless of the apparent extent of damage amount.
In cases where one of the involved drivers leaves the scene of the traffic collision and responds to IUPD or otherwise contacts IUPD to make a report, an officer will be assigned to document the information from the parties. The responding officer will not decline to take a report based only on the involved vehicles being moved from the original crash location.
If the apparent extent of the total property damage is less than $2500 and a report is not requested by either driver, officers will ensure that each driver involved in the collision complies with IC 9-26-1-1.1, which includes ensuring that the drivers involved exchange names, addresses, and the registration numbers of the motor vehicle as well as presenting their operator’s driver’s license.
In accordance with IC 9-26-2, all crash reports will be completed using the Automated Reporting Information Exchange System (ARIES). For crash reports in which a detailed investigation or a case report in IUPD’s Records Management System (RMS) is not specifically required as described below, the reporting officer will ensure the following data elements are included in the associated case report in the IUPD’s RMS. This will aid the IUPD in keeping accurate records that are easily recalled.
- The face page contains the appropriate report title, status, disposition, date and time the crash was reported, date and time the crash occurred, and the common name indicating the location of where the crash occurred.
- The incident section contains the appropriate incident code.
- The names section contains at minimum the first and last names, date of birth, and state identification/license number of every person involved.
- The vehicle section contains at minimum the license plate number, make, model and vehicle identification number of each vehicle involved.
Death or Injury (10.2.1 a)
For collisions that involve death or injury, more than one officer will be assigned to respond. Mutual aid should be requested as necessary. For collisions that involve death or serious bodily injury, a case report in IUPD’s Records Management System (RMS) in addition to the crash report in ARIES will be completed. These collisions will require a detailed investigation.
For traffic collisions involving a fatality or a probable fatality, the first officer on scene should initiate the incident command system as soon as practical. The first responding supervisor will assume responsibilities of incident command.
As soon as reasonably practical, an IUPD officer will access the emergency contact database maintained by the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles and attempt to contact the emergency contact person(s) for any person involved in the collision who is unable to communicate due to death or serious bodily injury. If contact with the emergency contact person is made, the officer will inform the emergency contact person that the individual has been involved in a motor vehicle accident.
IUPD will offer a portable breath test (PBT) or chemical test to any person who the officer has reason to believe operated a vehicle that was involved in a fatal accident or an accident involving serious bodily injury. IUPD will offer a chemical test to the person if:
- the results of the portable breath test indicate the presence of alcohol;
- the results of the portable breath test do not indicate the presence of alcohol but the officer has probable cause to believe the person is under the influence of a controlled substance or another drug; or
- the person refuses to submit to a portable breath test.
The IUPD may offer the person more than one (1) portable breath test or chemical test. All chemical tests must be administered within three (3) hours after the fatal accident or the accident involving serious bodily injury.
If the person refuses to submit to a chemical test, and the officer does not have probable cause of intoxication, then the officer may cite the person under IC 9-30-7-5.
If the person refuses to submit to a chemical test, and the officer does have probable cause of intoxication, then the officer should attempt to obtain a search warrant for blood following the procedures set forth by the county prosecutor’s office.
An accident reconstructionist will be requested by a supervisor for traffic collisions involving death or serious bodily injury.
Property Damage (10.2.1 b)
A crash report will be completed in ARIES if the total property damage appears to be in excess of $2500. These collisions will require a traffic collision report only.
Hit and Run (10.2.1 c)
A case report will be completed in IUPD’s Records Management System (RMS) in addition to the crash report in ARIES (when one is required under IC 9-26-2-2) when investigating all hit and run collisions. Hit and run crashes that involve only property damage will require a report only. Hit and run crashes that involve death or serious bodily injury will require a detailed investigation.
Impairment Due to Alcohol or Drugs (10.2.1 d)
For collisions that involve impairment due to alcohol or drugs, more than one officer will respond. Mutual aid should be requested as necessary. A case report in IUPD’s RMS will be completed in addition to the crash report in ARIES when investigating accidents due to driver impairment from alcohol and/or drugs. These collisions will require a detailed investigation.
For accidents involving fatalities or serious bodily injuries that involve alcohol and/or drug impairment, the IUPD will request assistance from an officer with specialized training in the detection of alcohol and/or drugs to the scene to assist in the investigation.
Other Criminal Activity (10.2.1 e)
If during a traffic collision investigation, the officer discovers other criminal activity that is occurring or has just occurred, the officer will document the criminal activity in a case report in IUPD’s RMS and take appropriate action. The officer should request additional officer(s) as appropriate depending on the criminal activity. The criminal activity will require a detailed investigation.
Public or Mass Transportation Vehicles (10.2.1 f)
Crashes involving public or mass transportation vehicles have the potential to be a mass casualty incident that requires establishing incident command and additional resources. These incidents will require a detailed investigation.
Crashes that involve public or mass transportation vehicles that involve only property damage will require a report in ARIES only.
Agency Vehicles (10.2.1 g)
Officers will complete a crash report in ARIES for collisions involving IU owned vehicles in accordance with IC 9-26-2. If the criteria for IC 9-26-2 are not met, officers will document the collision as a case report in IUPD’s RMS. Photographs should be taken and submitted as evidence. These collisions will require a report only.
IUPD Vehicles Involved in a Collision
For collisions that result in personal injury or property damage the following procedures will be followed. If the collision involves property damage or minor injury, the supervisor may investigate the collision. If the supervisor is not available, the collision will be investigated by another agency. For collisions involving serious bodily injury or death, an IUPD supervisor will respond to the scene. These collisions will be investigated by another agency.
When a collision is investigated by another agency, the IUPD supervisor will request a copy of the incident report from the investigating agency. A case report will be completed in IUPD’s RMS for internal documentation purposes for all collisions involving an IUPD vehicle.
For collisions that do not involve death or serious bodily injury, and the supervisor does not observe signs of intoxication, the officer will submit to a PBT on scene that is administered or observed by the supervisor. Assistance from another agency to administer the PBT is acceptable.
- If the PBT registers 0.00 BrAC, no further action is required.
- If the PBT detects the presence of alcohol a certified chemical test will be administered to confirm the PBT results, and the supervisor will document the information in the Professional Standards System and notify the chain of command.
IUPD will report to the Office of Insurance, Loss Control & Claims (INLOCC) any traffic collision that involves an IUPD vehicle, regardless of the location of where the incident occurred. When possible, the driver of the IUPD vehicle will be responsible for completing the report to INLOCC. If the driver is not able to complete the form, the supervisor will complete it on their behalf.
Collision Review Board
The following procedure will be followed when an IUPD vehicle is involved in a collision that does not involve a pursuit or result in serious bodily injury or death. The pursuit review outlined in G9.2.2 Pursuit of Motor Vehicles will supersede this collision review board. Other administrative or disciplinary proceedings will be conducted for collisions involving serious bodily injury or death.
The director for professional standards and education will appoint a collision review board each January, including alternates. This board will serve for the calendar year. The membership of the board will consist of the following:
- Chair (rank of Lieutenant or higher)
- Certified emergency vehicle operations instructor
- A division training coordinator
- A specially trained officer in the operation of bicycles and motorcycles
When an IUPD vehicle is involved in a collision, the collision review board will commence a review within thirty (30) days. The review will consist of reviewing the actions of the employee and all available documentation for compliance with general order and application and effectiveness of vehicle tactics taught to IUPD officers. The collision review board will not make recommendations on any possible discipline for violations of general order, university policy, or Indiana Statute.
After the review, the chair of the collision review board will provide the director for professional standards and education and the division chief of police a collision review report. The collision review report will include the following:
- Identification of areas to sustain and areas to improve.
- A statement that indicates no changes to general orders are recommended or recommendations for specific changes to general orders.
- A statement that indicates no training points emerged from the collision review or recommendations for specific training points.
- A statement that indicates general orders were not violated or a list of suspected general order violations.
- A statement that indicates if the director for professional standards and education should investigate suspected violations of general orders.
The director for professional standards and education will determine if:
- An internal affairs investigation must be started to address any violations of general orders.
- Remedial training should be assigned.
- The director for accreditation and strategy should be notified if a change to general order is recommended.
- Corrective action is necessary.
Accidents Occurring on Private Property (10.2.1 h)
Officers will complete a crash report in ARIES when investigating accidents that occur on private property within IUPD Primary Jurisdiction as defined in G1.1.2 Jurisdiction and Service Boundaries. Collisions that involve only property damage will require a report only. Collisions that involve death or serious bodily injury will require a detailed investigation.
Traffic collision investigation follow-up
The IUPD will conduct follow-up investigations to traffic collisions as necessary. An investigations supervisor may assign a detective to the case for follow-up or may refer the case to the primary investigating officer for follow-up.
Follow-up investigations will be conducted in accordance with G13.1.3 Follow-Up Investigations. Additional follow-up activities for traffic collisions may include, but are not limited to:
- collecting off-scene data
- obtaining formal statements from witnesses
- reconstructing accidents
- using expert and technical assistance
- preparing formal reports to support criminal charges
Related Information
- ARIES Manual
Indiana Code
- IC 9-13-2-165 “Serious bodily injury”
- IC 9-26-1-1.1 Duties of driver of motor vehicle involved in accident
- IC 9-26-2 Duties of Law Enforcement Officers and Accident Reports
- IC 9-30-7 Implied Consent in Accidents Involving Serious Injury or Death
Indiana University
- FIN-INS-02 Driving Privileges
- Fleet Services Accident Damage Reporting Form: https://fleetservices.indiana.edu/vehicle-rental/accidents.html
Indiana University Police Department
- G1.1.2 Jurisdiction and Service Boundaries
- G9.2.2 Pursuit of Motor Vehicles
- G10.2.2 Response to Collision Scene
- G13.1.3 Follow-Up Investigations
- G14.1.6 Traffic Collisions