600-09 Crash Investigations

Question 1

Upon receiving a citizen’s request for a crash investigation, a Houston Emergency Center (HEC) call taker shall instruct the citizen to make a report at a police station within 24 hours. However, if one or more of the following is also true, then the dispatcher shall send an officer to the scene to investigate and complete a Crash Report.

a. Someone was _____in the crash.
b. A driver involved in the crash is or appears to be _____.
c. A driver involved in the crash does not _____.
d. A driver involved in the crash is unable to _____.
e. A vehicle involved in the crash is not _____.
f. Federal, state, county, or City _____ are involved.
g. A _____ collision occurred.
h. A _____ is involved.
i. The motor vehicle crash involved a _____.

Unless one of the aforementioned situations applies, dispatchers shall instruct citizens to move their vehicles to a safe location off the freeway or roadway, to exchange information, and to make a report at a police station.

Answer 1

a. Someone was injured in the crash.
b. A driver involved in the crash is or appears to be intoxicated.
c. A driver involved in the crash does not have a driver license.
d. A driver involved in the crash is unable to provide proof of financial responsibility.
e. A vehicle involved in the crash is not mechanically able to be driven from the scene.
f. Federal, state, county, or City property and/or vehicles are involved.
g. A hit-and-run collision occurred.
h. A school bus (public or private) is involved.
i. The motor vehicle crash involved a bicyclist or pedestrian.

Question 2

If a party insists that an officer respond to the scene or an officer on-views or is flagged down concerning a minor vehicle crash, the arriving officer shall make an inquiry. If no investigation is required and none of the aforementioned situations applies, the officer shall issue a Blue Form for the citizens to complete and retain for their records. A citizen _____ is not a reason for an officer to conduct an investigation. If the circumstances allow a Blue Form to be issued at the scene, a Blue Form may also be issued at the police station.

Answer 2

merely demanding a Crash Report be completed

Question 3

A Vehicular Crimes Division (VCD) investigator shall be called to motor vehicle crashes involving any of the following:

j. A _____.
k. Failure to stop and render aid (FSRA) with _____.

I. Any _____ vehicle.

m. _____ injury, including amputation.

If available, VCD or Traffic Enforcement Division personnel may be called for other crashes occurring on a freeway or service road.

Answer 3

j. A fatality.
k. Failure to stop and render aid (FSRA) with serious bodily injury.

I. Any law enforcement vehicle or fire department vehicle.

m. Catastrophic or life-threatening injury, including amputation.

Question 4

Officers shall investigate motor vehicle crashes that occur on private property only when _____. Private property includes private residential property or the property of a garage or parking lot for which a charge is made for storing or parking a motor vehicle.

Answer 4

they result in serious bodily injury or death

Question 5

For crashes occurring on “public” private property (e.g., shopping center parking lots, apartment parking lots), the only violation for which officers may issue a citation is _____.

The only charges that may be filed involving a crash on “public” private property are:

a. _____
b. _____
c. _____

Answer 5

1) backing not in safety
a. Failure to stop and give information (FSGI).
b. Failure to stop and render aid (FSRA).
c. Driving while intoxicated, intoxication assault, etc.

Question 6

Vehicles involved in minor crashes are to be removed from the freeway or roadway to crash investigation sites or other safe places that will _____

At major or fatal crash scenes, officers not directly involved in the investigation shall direct traffic around the scene. The scene supervisor is responsible for_____ in order to return traffic flow to normal as quickly as possible.

Answer 6

1) not distract the attention of other drivers.

2) ensuring that police officers direct traffic at the appropriate locations

Question 7

Whenever possible, officers shall photograph City equipment or City property involved in a crash. Private photographers may take photographs of any crash or crime scene, unless_____. See General Order 600-21, Public Recording of Police Activity.

Answer 7

doing so interferes with the on-scene investigation

Question 8

Unless otherwise instructed by a _____, officers shall clear crash scenes as quickly as possible after obtaining all crash scene information necessary to complete a Crash Report. If officers respond to a crash scene that involves a _____, they are to protect the scene and the evidence at the scene until the arrival of VCD officers, who shall take control of the scene. Officers shall complete Crash Reports only after crash scenes are cleared.

Answer 8

1) VCD supervisor

2) fatality or potential fatality

Question 9

Any portion of a vehicle or its load is considered a part of that vehicle. This includes a trailer whether it is damaged or not.
For crashes involving oil spills or the loss of a load, cleanup crews and heavy equipment (e.g., front-end loaders) are available 24 hours a day from the _____.

Answer 9

Texas Department of Transportation

Question 10

Officers shall contact the HPD Truck Enforcement Unit under any of the following circumstances involving a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,001 pounds or greater.

a. _____crashes.
b. Crashes involving _____
c. All _____ incidents.
d. _____ incidents.
e. Crashes involving any _____
f. Crashes involving any _____ or any _____.
g. _____ and any other circumstances that create a danger to public safety.

Answer 10

a. Fatality crashes.
b. Crashes involving road closures.
c. All hazardous material incidents.
d. Major freeway incidents.
e. Crashes involving any City vehicle.
f. Crashes involving any law enforcement vehicle or any fire department vehicle.
g. Lost or shifted loads and any other circumstances that create a danger to public safety

Question 11

Officers shall ensure that the following information is exchanged between the parties involved in a crash:

a. _____ of drivers.
b. _____ information.
c. Motor vehicle _____.
d. _____ of the vehicles involved.
e. _____ of the vehicles involved.

Answer 11

a. Name and address of drivers.
b. Driver license information.
c. Motor vehicle liability insurance information (not amounts of insurance coverage).
d. License plate number of the vehicles involved.
e. Vehicle identification number (VIN) printed on the VIN plates of the vehicles involved.

Question 12

Crash victims who want a copy of the Crash Report should be advised to wait _____ days from the date of the crash before going to the Records Division to obtain a copy of the report for a small fee. Crash victims should be encouraged to call the HPD Records Division to check on the status of their report before going to the Records Division to purchase a copy. Citizens can also purchase a copy of their Crash Report via the Internet by going to the HPD website and selecting the link to purchase it. Crash Reports are usually available online approximately _____ days after the crash.

Answer 12

1) ten calendar

2) ten calendar

Question 13

It is important that officers obtain all authorized proof of financial responsibility information from the drivers involved in a crash and that they list this information on the Crash Report. If a driver does not have proof of financial responsibility, which may be presented via cellular telephone, the Crash Report shall include the _____.

If a driver claims to have proof of financial responsibility or produces an expired proof of financial responsibility card, officers shall attempt to verify the proof of financial responsibility by conducting a registration check through the TexasSure program using a mobile computing device (MCD) or the dispatcher. If using an MCD, officers shall check the box labeled “detailed registration” on the Vehicle Check screen in order to satisfy this requirement. If issuing the driver a citation for failing to present proof of financial responsibility, the officer shall write “_____” on the top of the citation or in the Citizen Miscellaneous Tab of the Electronic Ticket Writer.

Answer 13

1) number of the citation issued to the uninsured driver

2) Checked Insurance Database

Question 14

While gathering information needed for the Crash Report, officers are required, if physically possible, to note the VINs by _____ on each involved vehicle as opposed to obtaining the VINs from other sources.

Answer 14

personally observing the VIN plate

Question 15

Officers responding to fatal or possible fatal crash scenes shall make every effort to keep witnesses on the scene until a crash investigator arrives. While officers may not detain persons who are only witnesses, officers should stress the importance of the witness statement and encourage them to remain on the scene. In general, any restraint or detention of a person that amounts to a seizure is unreasonable unless _____

Officers should at a minimum obtain the _____ of all witnesses that need to leave the scene of the crash so that they can provide a statement to investigators at a later time.

Answer 15

1) justified by reasonable suspicion or probable cause.

2) names, addresses, and telephone numbers

Question 16

If an officer determines that a crash involved only a driver who intentionally hit another vehicle, person, or property, the officer shall complete an incident report for the appropriate offense instead of a Crash Report. Such incidents are not _____incidents.

Answer 16

FSGI or FSRA

Question 17

The violation of law that causes a collision shall be shown on the citation with the word “accident” in parentheses following the charge. For example:

a. Changing lanes not in safety (accident).
b. Failure to control speed (accident) shall be used in most rear-end collisions with a moving vehicle and collisions with a parked automobile. _____shall be used in all other appropriate incidents.

Answer 17

Following too closely (accident)

Question 18

After completing an investigation, the officer should issue the proper citation to the violator in a motor vehicle crash. Valid reasons for not issuing a citation are listed below:

c. _____ to the vehicles involved.
d. _____ that occurred at the time of the crash (i.e., it was not pre-existing).
e. _____ to the complainant’s vehicle.
f. _____could not be determined.
g. _____ committed (there were contributing minor violations by more than one involved driver).
h. Unable to _____
i. Person has _____
j. A _____ was filed (e.g., driving while intoxicated or driving under the influence of drugs).
k. _____, such as road hazards that caused the crash.

If a citation is not issued, one of the reasons listed above shall be entered in the narrative section of the Crash Report.

Answer 18

c. Minor damage to the vehicles involved.
d. Mechanical failure that occurred at the time of the crash (i.e., it was not pre-existing).
e. No damage to the complainant’s vehicle.
f. Violator could not be determined.
g. Double violation committed (there were contributing minor violations by more than one involved driver).
h. Unable to place driver behind the wheel.
i. Person has diplomatic immunity (see General Order 500-15, Contact with Representatives of Foreign Governments).
j. A greater charge was filed (e.g., driving while intoxicated or driving under the influence of drugs).
k. Extenuating circumstances, such as road hazards that caused the crash.

Question 19

Any and all citations written are set in the officer’s regular traffic court and turned in with the officer’s work card after he has logged them on the appropriate Crash Report.

Citations issued as a result of crash investigations shall contain the incident number and shall be separated from other citations and delivered to VCD. VCD shall collect crash citations for the_____ to process.

Officers shall not issue a citation if a driver potentially faces _____. Disposition of a citation may preclude further prosecution of the driver in such cases.

Answer 19

1) Municipal Courts

2) felony charges that are directly related to the cause of the crash

Question 20

Officers shall complete the Crash Report by the end of their shift or notify their supervisor to _____

Answer 20

receive permission to deviate from this requirement

Question 21

Supervisor’s Responsibilities

The supervisor of an investigating officer is responsible for checking the Crash Report for accuracy and completeness using the CRASH system. If errors are found, the supervisor shall note the error, reject the report in the system to send it back to the officer, and then _____. Once the supervisor determines that the report is correct and complete, the supervisor shall approve the report in the CRASH system so that it can be further processed and made available for public purchase.

Answer 21

personally notify the officer of the need for corrections

Question 22

Supervisor’s Responsibilities

Supervisors shall monitor their subordinates’ reports in the CRASH system and ensure that Crash Reports are reviewed, corrected, and approved in the CRASH system within _____ days following the incident. Upon approval in the CRASH system, Crash Reports are immediately sent to ____ in an electronic format. The Texas Transportation Code requires Crash Reports to be sent to the Texas Department of Transportation within_____ days following the incident.

Answer 22

1) five calendar
2) TxDOT
3) ten calendar

Question 23

FSGI, FSRA, and fatality incidents require both a Crash Report and an incident report. Officers shall not list the suspect as “charged” on the Crash Report unless charges have been filed.

To support the ability to identify the suspect in such incidents, officers should include the following information in the incident report narrative:

a. Detailed _____description.
b. _____ description.
c. _____of the offense.
d. Witness statements describing their _____.
e. Whether or not a driver or witness can _____
f. If the complainant wants to _____

Answer 23

a. Detailed suspect description.
b. Suspect vehicle description.
c. Circumstances of the offense.
d. Witness statements describing their observations.
e. Whether or not a driver or witness can identify the suspect.
f. If the complainant wants to pursue criminal charges.

Question 24

When investigating an FSGI or FSRA incident, officers shall check the “Hit and Run” box on the Crash Report. If an individual is claiming injury but there is no visible injury apparent to the officer, the incident report title shall reflect “____.” The Hit and Run Unit shall upgrade the incident report title if it proves to be an FSRA. The title of the incident report shall reflect “FSRA” if the incident involves an obvious or confirmed injury or death to a person.

Answer 24

FSGI

Question 25

FSGI - No full plate or unable to ID suspect driver

Answer 25

This report title shall be used when there is insufficient evidence or information for VCD to conduct a follow-up investigation (i.e., an incomplete suspect vehicle license plate is provided and/or the complainant will not be able to identify the driver of the suspect vehicle in a lineup).

Question 26

FSGI - Damage under $1,000 or private property

Answer 26

This report title shall be used in all FSGI cases when, in the investigating officer’s opinion, the damage of the complainant’s vehicle is less than $1,000 and/or the crash occurred on private property.

Question 27

FSGI - Full plate and able to ID suspect driver

Answer 27

This report title shall be used when damage to the complainant’s vehicle exceeds $1,000 and there is sufficient evidence or information for VCD to conduct a follow-up investigation (i.e., both a complete suspect vehicle license plate is provided and the complainant will be able to identify the suspect driver in a lineup).

Question 28

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) defines aircraft crashes as occurrences associated with the operation of an aircraft, and in which any person suffers_____, or in which the aircraft receives substantial damage that would normally require _____

Answer 28

1) death or serious bodily injury

2) major repair or replacement of the affected component.

Question 29

Due to the unique nature of aircraft crash scenes and the expertise required to thoroughly investigate these events, the _____ and the_____ shall be treated as the primary investigators at an aircraft crash site. VCD shall be responsible for responding to all aircraft crashes that occur within the city limits of Houston, including on City owned airport property, to assist with the investigation as needed. The VCD’s Crash Reconstruction Unit shall respond to the scene, complete an incident report, and act as the _____

Answer 29

1) National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)
2) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
3) department liaison with the NTSB and FAA.

Question 30

The _____ shall assign responding units to aircraft crashes that occur within the confines of the City of Houston airport property (i.e., IAH Airport, Hobby Airport, or Ellington Airport) to assist with the investigation as needed. Patrol officers from surrounding districts may assist Airport Division officers at crash scenes on City owned airport property if Airport Division officers request such assistance.

Answer 30

concerned HPD Airport Division

Question 31

AIRCRAFT CRASHES

Responding Officer’s Responsibilities

Responding officers shall contact the HPD Command Center. Command Center personnel shall immediately contact both the _____ and the ____and provide the location of the aircraft crash and any known information related to serious injuries, fatalities, or substantial damage to the aircraft involved.

Answer 31

1) National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)

2) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

Question 32

AIRCRAFT CRASHES

Responding Officer’s Responsibilities

Prior to NTSB arrival, officers arriving at the scene shall conduct the following steps:

a. Verify with the fire department that the scene is declared _____ before taking control of the crash site.
b. Establish a ____-foot perimeter around the crash site.
c. Establish an ____ to the scene and set up a _____
d. Protect _____.
e. Prevent the disturbance of wreckage and debris except to _____
f. Protect and preserve _____ and marks made by the aircraft.
g. Allow public safety personnel access to the wreckage to the extent necessary to _____
h. Maintain a record of _____

i. Restrict access to only the following authorized personnel:
1. ____and ____.
2. _____.

Upon NTSB arrival on scene, all access will be controlled by NTSB. Officers shall maintain a perimeter around the crash site until the NTSB or FAA have completed their investigation or they are relieved by the NTSB or FAA.

Answer 32

a. Verify with the fire department that the scene is declared fire safe before taking control of the crash site.
b. Establish a 300-foot perimeter around the crash site.
c. Establish an entry point to the scene and set up a mobile command post.
d. Protect property.
e. Prevent the disturbance of wreckage and debris except to preserve life, rescue the injured, or protect the wreckage from further damage.
f. Protect and preserve ground scars and marks made by the aircraft.
g. Allow public safety personnel access to the wreckage to the extent necessary to preserve life and/or stabilize hazardous materials.
h. Maintain a record of personnel who enter the crash site.

i. Restrict access to only the following authorized personnel:
1. NTSB and FAA.
2. Medical Examiner/Coroner.

Question 33

All crashes that occur on METRO controlled roadways shall be investigated by the METRO Police Department. If no METRO police officer is available, a Houston police officer may_____

The METRO Police Department shall investigate all crashes involving _____

Answer 33

1) investigate the crash.

2) any METRO vehicle or light rail car.

Question 34

All crashes that occur on a toll road shall be investigated by a _____

Answer 34

Harris County Constable’s office.

Question 35

When a crash involves five or more fatalities, officers shall contact the ____at their 24-hour telephone number, 202-314-6290.

Answer 35

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)

Question 36

When a crash involves a fatality and the at-fault driver is not deceased and may be under the influence of a drug or alcohol, the responding VCD investigator shall contact the _____ to request a _____ to make the scene. The investigator shall not delay this notification to confirm the fault of the potential at-fault driver.

Answer 36

1) Command Center

2) Drug Recognition Expert (DRE)

Question 37

The Harris County District Attorney’s Office has a specialized unit to assist with the investigation of certain incidents involving motor vehicles. Any officer investigating an incident described below shall notify the Command Center, which shall then contact the Vehicular Assault/Traffic Safety Team in the District Attorney’s Office.

a. Any vehicular incident, accidental or intentional, that results in serious bodily injury to a child less than _____
b. Any vehicular incident, accidental or intentional, involving a _____

Answer 37

1) 15 years of age.

2) fatality or homicide (excluding incidents in which the only potential suspect is deceased).

Question 38

When an officer is told about or on-views a specific traffic engineering deficiency or hazard, the officer shall complete an _____ form available on the department’s Intranet Portal.

The completed form shall be forwarded as indicated on the form to VCD for processing. The VCD division commander shall review the form and forward it to the _____.

Answer 38

1) HPD Traffic Hazard Report

2) City of Houston Public Works Department