FHP’s Traffic Homicide Field Packet

If you were involved in a traffic crash in which someone died, law enforcement will begin a traffic homicide investigations.

In Florida, the Florida Highway Patrol handles a majority of these cases, although the county sheriff’s office or a local police department might head up the traffic homicide investigation.

Officers in these investigations typically include a traffic crash reconstructionist. Some of these officer, after leaving their agency, go on to become expert witnesses in the private sector.

Florida Highway Patrol provides training on how to complete the traffic homicide investigation field note packets on a form known as HSMV 62654 (10/14).

During the investigation, your criminal defense attorney can obtain a copy of the traffic homicide field packet and other evidence needed to defend the case.

Read more about traffic homicide investigations in Florida.

Training and Courses for Traffic Homicide Investigations

Training in crash investigations for law enforcement officers throughout Florida includes:

• Basic Traffic Homicide Investigation Course;
• Advanced Traffic Homicide Investigation Course; and
• Traffic Homicide Investigation and Reconstruction.

In these courses, officers learn:

• the laws of physics that apply to speed, acceleration, and
  frictional forces;
• the dynamics of a vehicle in motion with respect to airborne situations such as falls vaults, and flips;
• determining linear momentum to understand vehicle dynamics;
• how to analyze impact damage as it relates to vehicle and occupant movement;
• examination and evaluation of vehicle lamps, tire evaluation, dynamics, airborne dynamics, vehicle damage evaluation and conservation of momentum; and
• forensic vehicle electronic data collection.

Reviewing these forms can help you better understand the information gathered.

TABLE of CONTENTS for the Field Packet

The table of contents for the traffic homicide field packet might include the following:

• HSMV 62652 – TRAFFIC HOMICIDE FNP COVER SHEET
• HSMV 62653 – FHP VEHICLE/PERSONNEL CRASH FNP COVER SHEET
• HSMV 62654 – TABLE of CONTENTS SHEET
• HSMV 62655 – INVESTIGATOR’S CASE ACTIVITY SUMMARY
• HSMV 62656 – CRASH SCENE & PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
• HSMV 62657 – FIELD SKETCH & MEASUREMENTS
• HSMV 62658 – FIELD SKETCH MEASUREMENTS
• HSMV 62660 – FIELD SKETCH DIAGRAM
• HSMV 62661 – CALCULATION SHEET
• HSMV 62704 – WITNESS LIST
• HSMV 62662 – WITNESS STATEMENT SHEET
• HSMV 62663 – VICTIM DATA & BACKGROUND INFORMATION
• HSMV 62664 – POST-COLLISION INSPECTION (Sheet #1)
• HSMV 62665 – POST-COLLISION INSPECTION (Sheet #2)
• HSMV 62666 – POST-COLLISION INSPECTION (Trailer)
• HSMV 62667 – POST-COLLISION INSPECTION (Cycle)
• HSMV 62668 – POST-COLLISION INSPECTION (Multi-Axle Sheet #1)
• HSMV 62669 – POST-COLLISION INSPECTION (Multi-Axle Sheet #2)
• HSMV 62670 – POST-COLLISION INSPECTION (Train)
• HSMV 62671 – SUPPLEMENT / CONTINUATION SHEET
• *OTHER: [might include the CAD NOTES, TOTAL STATION LEGEND SHEET, AUTOPSY, Victim’s Toxicology TOX, ETC

INVESTIGATOR’S CASE ACTIVITY SUMMARY

The investigator’s case activity summary lists the date and time of each action taken. Those actions might include:

• case assigned
• entered HITS
• contact with witnesses for a sworn recorded interview
• contact with the accused
• start to type invest report
• typing invest
• finished corrections

CRASH Scene & PHYSICAL EVIDENCE

CRASH SCENE INFORMATION

The crash scene information gathered might include:

• Date:
• Day:
• Time:
• County:
• City, Town or Community:
• If outside City, Town or Community: ___ feet, ___ miles N S E W of ______
• Open Highway ⼝ Business ⼝ Residential ⼝ Rural ⼝ other:
• Roadway Crash Occurred Upon:
• Intersecting Road:
• If Not at Intersection: __ Feet ____ Miles NSEW of ______
• Other Officer(s) On Scene:
• Photos By:
• Other Photos
• Video Evidence Available:
• If YES, Describe: _____

PHYSICAL EVIDENCE INFORMATION

The physical evidence information might include:

• Initial Area of Collision (AOC):
• Weather:
• Lighting:
• Visual Obstructions:

PRIMARY ROADWAY

• Road Width:
• Surface Composition: Asphalt
• Characteristics:
• Roadway Defects: __Yes __No / If YES, Describe:_____
• Centerline Marked: __ Yes __No / If YES, Describe:______
• Edge Marked: ___Yes ___ No / If YES, Describe:______
• Traffic Control (Describe): _____
• Speed Limit: _______
• Shoulder Width:
• Composition:
• Curve: __Yes ____No / If YES, Chord: ____ Middle Ordinate: ____ Radius:
• Median Width:

SECONDARY ROADWAY

• ___Not Applicable
• Road Width:
• Surface Composition:
• Characteristics:
• Roadway Defects:
• Centerline Marked:
• Edge Marked:
• Traffic Control (Describe):
• Speed Limit: MPH
• Shoulder Width:
• Curve:
• Distance from Initial AOC:
• Shoulder Width:
• Chord:
• Middle Ordinate:
• Composition:
• Radius:

FORENSIC MAPPING LEGEND

• Total Station:
• Serial Number:
• Measurements Taken by:
• Measurements Completed On:
• Diagram Drawn By:
• Location:
• Grade:
• Super-Elevation:
• Drag Sled Weight: ____ Ibs
• Drag Sled:
• Drag Sled Pulls:
• Total Station
• Height:
• Prism Pole Height:
• Reference Distance:

The mapping legend contains a graph containing these data points:

• point number
• east
• north
• elevation
• description

Calculations

V-2: Minimum Speed Equation 0 Speed attained skidding to a stop or accelerating from a stop. Also expresses energy loss i n miles per hour if a stop does not occur.

Vehicle Deceleration Without Active Driver Braking – There are times when a vehicle, out of control, rotates about its Y-axis in a clockwise or counterclockwise manner.

After the total degrees of rotation of the vehicle are determined, find the sum of the sin functions of the total degrees, and then divide the sum by the number of total degrees.

Once braking efficiency has been calculated, multiple the f value of the surface with the braking efficiency to derive the adjusted f value for the efficiency of the vehicle deceleration that occurred during the rotational movement.

V-1: Minimum Speed Equation: Speed attained skidding to a stop or accelerating from a stop. Also expresses energy loss in miles per hour i f a stop does not occur.

Vehicle Deceleration Without Active Driver Braking – There are times when a vehicle, out of control, rotates about its Y-axis in a clockwise or counterclockwise manner.

After the total degrees of rotation of the vehicle are determined, find the sum o  the sin functions of the total degrees, and then divide the sum by the number of total degrees.

Vehicle Deceleration Without Active Driver Braking – There are times when a vehicle, out of control, rotates about its Y-axis in a clockwise or counterclockwise manner.

After the total degrees of rotation of the vehicle are determined, find the sum of the sin functions of the total degrees, and then divide the sum by the number of total degrees.

Once braking efficiency has been calculated, multiple the f value of the surface with the braking efficiency to derive the adjusted f value for the efficiency of the vehicle deceleration that occurred during the rotational movement.