In February 2010, a $250,000 Bentley crashed into a Hyundai Sonata, pushing the car sideways and into a water-filled canal. Water rushed into the upside-down Hyundai and caused the trapped driver to drown. Near the scene of the collision, police found the Bentley’s driver exhibiting signs of alcohol intoxication. An investigation led to the conviction of the Bentley driver for DUI manslaughter, an investigation aided by technology that reconstructed the crash.
Posted on the Evidence Technology Magazine website, Troy Snelgrove and Bob Galvin’s article, “Collision: An Accident Reconstruction Case Study,” details the methods investigators used to discover the facts behind the car collision. The article and accompanying video are good resources for anyone who wants to include this aspect of forensics in a story. Another helpful resource is the Forensic Accident website. In addition to information about accident reconstruction, you’ll find a glossary of automotive body terms – the type of terms that your fictional expert should know.