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Police & ForensicsCrash Diagram and Narrative
Twenty flashcards on writing the crash narrative and drawing the crash diagram so both tell the same story.
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20 cards
- What is the crash narrative for?
- To document what happened, check the report for consistency and capture factors not coded elsewhere.
- First tip for a good narrative?
- Write simply and follow a logical sequence.
- How do you refer to people in the narrative?
- By role, such as "the driver of V1" or "witness 2", unless your department says otherwise.
- Two things a narrative must never be?
- Blank, or just "vehicles moved prior to arrival".
- No information and nobody to interview?
- Check with your supervisor on how to proceed.
- How should the narrative relate to the rest of the report?
- It should match what you coded in the form and drew in the diagram.
- What goes into the crash diagram?
- All vehicles and people involved, especially pedestrians and cyclists, key situations, and the layout and location.
- What is the diagram used for?
- Checking the report's consistency, helping analysts classify the crash, and assigning its location code.
- How are vehicles shown in the diagram?
- With a simple drawing and the same number each vehicle has in the rest of the report.
- Does a typical crash diagram need to be to scale?
- No, and measurements are usually not needed; serious crashes may need more detail, even reconstruction.
- Best place to finish the diagram?
- At the scene, while it is in front of you; if not, take photos or sketch and finish later.
- What does a good example diagram label?
- The streets, each vehicle, and which way is north.
- NY report, one-vehicle crash: what goes in the diagram box?
- Enter code 9 and draw the diagram in Box 9, labeling items relevant to the crash.
- Where does amended information go on the NY report?
- In the Crash Description/Officer's Notes, never by changing the coded fields.
- Example of something the notes must explain?
- A name or address that differs from the printed license or registration, such as a married name.
- Who else gets named in the notes?
- Anyone who apparently contributed to the crash without being in the collision, and owners of other damaged property.
- A code marked with an asterisk was used: what then?
- Explain it in the Crash Description/Officer's Notes.
- The crash was reconstructed: what do you record?
- Check the box and print the reconstruction officer's name in the notes.
- More than two contributing factors for one unit?
- Enter the two main ones in the boxes and describe the rest in the notes.
- What is recorded for each witness?
- Name, address and phone number.
Official sources
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
Tribal Crash Reporting Toolkit: Officer's Instruction Tool (DOT HS 813 055, June 2022)
New York State Department of Motor Vehicles
Police Crash Report Submission Instructions (P-33): forms MV-104P, MV-104S, MV-104EN, MV-104D and MV-104L
Making Synapses is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by NHTSA, the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, the Albany Police Department or any law enforcement agency. Agency and form names are named only to describe the content.