Accident Scene Photos

[Imagebuffet]

I was at the scene of a terrible accident recently. As I attempted to render aid, I needed to move some items at the scene, whose position might aid in the investigation. So, I photographed the accident scene, including one of the victims. Some of the other people involved at the scene are also in the photos. These are painful photos for me, and I wasn't even emotionally attached to anyone else at the scene. I don't believe that these photos are suitable for public display. I intended them for the police department, but I have not yet contacted the police department to let them know of the existence of these photos.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to how I should handle these photos?

[Ahh!]

If you intended them for the PD, what seems to be the problem with contacting them?

[toverman]

Call the police at the department's non-emergency number and explain what you have (might need to be during weekday business hours). Or ask to speak to an officer in the traffic division, etc.

Were you on the scene when emergency crews arrived?

[Imagebuffet]

Originally Posted by Ahh!

If you intended them for the PD, what seems to be the problem with contacting them?

I have an e-mail written for them in my draft folder. I just hesitate to send it. I want to make sure this is a good idea before I do it, that I've worded this correctly. I really don't like having other people decide what I will do, and attracting the attention of the police is a good way to make that happen.

[Imagebuffet]

Originally Posted by toverman

Were you on the scene when emergency crews arrived?

Yes. I was on the scene 5 or 10 minutes before the emergency crews arrived. In fact, I finished taking photos several minutes before the first emergency crew arrived.

[lucian]

I would say contact the PD and let them know, especially since you had to move items prior to rendering aid. I would think that having photos before you moved things becomes very important since it probably would be considered evidence.

[BigJon]

As an accident investigator myself I would like to see the photos if it was my wreck. I doubt you moved anything that would hinder the investigation, debris is going to be moved by the FD or others prior to our arrival, something that is known. Skids and vehicles at rest as well as bodies at rest are more important most of the time. I would burn them to disk, and give them to the accident investigator, he or she will tag them in and they will become part of the jacket for the DA or others. They will need your contact information, you will be subpoenaed by the prosecutors and any civil suits that might come up, just plan on that. My bet would be if it was a fatality CSI or the investigator will photo the scene, but you photos would be a bonus, I say give it to them on Monday morning.

[Imagebuffet]

Originally Posted by BigJon

As an accident investigator myself I would like to see the photos if it was my wreck. I doubt you moved anything that would hinder the investigation, debris is going to be moved by the FD or others prior to our arrival, something that is known. Skids and vehicles at rest as well as bodies at rest are more important most of the time. I would burn them to disk, and give them to the accident investigator, he or she will tag them in and they will become part of the jacket for the DA or others. They will need your contact information, you will be subpoenaed by the prosecutors and any civil suits that might come up, just plan on that. My bet would be if it was a fatality CSI or the investigator will photo the scene, but you photos would be a bonus, I say give it to them on Monday morning.

Thank you. I'll call the PD tomorrow morning. This was a fatality accident, very tragic and difficult to understand. The hard part of the photo is that it does show the victim's back, an underage boy. I did not know anything about him at the time that I shot the photos.

[MikeyG1965]

BigJon has good advice.

Also, don't forget, if you have some issues from this accident, might be a good idea for you to talk with someone: A friend, pastor/religious leader.

In 1998, I and a co-worker on assignment came upon a fatality accident in a rural part of Georgia. It was a mother and young child (baby) involved in a head on collision. It was difficult at the time rendering aid (Boy Scout First Aid training kicked in). However, once it was all over with and the police were done with us, I had difficulty sleeping for a couple of weeks after. Ended up talking things over with a pastor and it helped me out.

[pintail]

I think your photos will be greatly appreciated by the PD and anyone else investigating this case in the future.

[Ahh!]

I commend you for your willingness to stop and render aid! The willingness to provide the additional photos to the investigators, even though they are disturbing to you, is also a measure of your willingness to be of service. Thank you!

I, too, can relate deeply, as I have been on the scene of disasters/accidents and a few fatalities. I agree with others in encouraging you to take advantage of the availablity of a trusted friend and or your religious councelors, If you don't have any, reach out and find one.

[Imagebuffet]

Thank you for the advice, commendation and encouragement. That is much more than I had expected when I posted.

I felt dirty when I made these photos. I'm very self conscious about other people's sensitivity at times like this, something that made me hesitate to do very much when I attempted to render aid (what if I goof up while everyone is watching?). Some people, maybe most people, would have thought I was crazy to attempt to aid the victim in the first place, but I did not know the severity of the accident when I arrived. I took just enough photos to document the location of a few items, before they might be moved, then quickly tossed my camera back into my car. I tried to do that before anyone saw me, but one frame shows a witness looking directly at me as I made the photo. If I had felt more freedom, I would have photographed from more angles.

I appreciate your concern about my mental and emotional well-being after this accident. In a way, I am fortunate, that this is not my first time working this type of accident. The first time I tried to render aid to a man who died in an accident was 16 years ago. My willingness to help at that time won me an invitation to join the volunteer fire department, which I did for a few years. The night of that accident, I had a severe case of shakes interrupt my sleep. This time, I don't have shakes, but sometimes, when I'm half-asleep, the horror and sorrow of what happened comes on me for a few seconds, then fades. Sometimes, during the day, I think of what a life that young man had, what potential he had, and I sigh and wish it hadn't happened. I've studied a lot about that young man over the last week. I even attended his celebration service. He had so much going for him. I envy him in many ways, not the least of which is that I have had suicidal tendencies all my life. But, nothing can exchange our lives.

[CallMeAl]

When you talk to the PD, ask about any type of counseling services available also. many of the larger departments have victims' advocates that coordinate de-briefing sessions for the emergency personnel and you could benefit from this also. As a CSI and former accident investigator, I agree with the other suggestions that you should contact the PD ASAP and give them a copy of the photos. Every bit of information will help the investigation.

[KD5NRH]

Originally Posted by BigJon

I doubt you moved anything that would hinder the investigation, debris is going to be moved by the FD or others prior to our arrival, something that is known. Skids and vehicles at rest as well as bodies at rest are more important most of the time.

I've occasionally wondered how hard it would be to equip all first responders' vehicles (department, and personal if they respond directly to scenes) with basic dashcams just for this purpose. It wouldn't have to be anything fancy, since it wouldn't be running constantly, just something that can be manually started when approaching a scene, and get initial locations and conditions of everything that might have to be moved immediately. For that matter, a $25-50 security camera in one of the "beanbag" mounts used for GPSs could be set on the dash when needed, and a small DVR can be had for $100-200.

[Imagebuffet]

I just e-mailed JPEG copies of my photos to an Accident Investigator at the police department, who I had contacted a few minutes earlier by phone.

Originally Posted by KD5NRH

I've occasionally wondered how hard it would be to equip all first responders' vehicles (department, and personal if they respond directly to scenes) with basic dashcams just for this purpose. It wouldn't have to be anything fancy, since it wouldn't be running constantly, just something that can be manually started when approaching a scene, and get initial locations and conditions of everything that might have to be moved immediately. For that matter, a $25-50 security camera in one of the "beanbag" mounts used for GPSs could be set on the dash when needed, and a small DVR can be had for $100-200.

Here is a video segment that came from my AV500 sports camera at an accident scene earlier this year. Unfortunately, the wires in my sports camera have broken; otherwise, I would have gotten great footage of this more recent accident.

YouTube: Motorcycle Wreck - 19 June 2008