Hit & Run Investigation

Policy & Procedures                 No. 1.19
                                    Subject:
                    Hit and Run
                                  Issuing Authority:                                      Effective Date:  Review Date:
                     Chief of Police                   01/01/2014   1/12/24
                                                                            Review Date: 11/12/17

 Revision
 &
 Reissued
 Dates:

              GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS AND GUIDELINES

The objective of a hit and run investigation is to determine responsibility for the collision and to
identify both the offender and the vehicle involved. This is often a difficult task because the
very elements of the crime include flight from the scene. Hit and run accidents may involve
property, persons or both. As the circumstances are more serious when a human life is involved,
these procedures are primarily directed at hit and run investigations involving persons.

I    ELEMENTS
.  A. The elements of the offense are as follows:
      1.       the defendant goes away
      2.      having operated
      3.      a motor vehicle
      4.     upon any way or in any place to which the public has a right of access, or any
               place to which members of the public have access as invitees or licensees.
      5.        after knowingly colliding with or otherwise causing
           a. injury to any person, or
           b. injury to any other vehicle or property
      6.      without stopping and making known
           a. his name
          b. residence, and
            c. the registration number of his motor vehicle.

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II. ON-SCENE DUTIES
  A. Officers should first make provisions for the medical treatment of the victim if necessary.
        Investigating officers are to follow-up on the condition of the victim after he/she is
        transported to a hospital to ensure appropriate charges are filed. If there is any possibility
        that the victim could die of his injuries, a charge of motor vehicle homicide should be
        considered.
  B. Officers should obtain the best possible description of the operator and his vehicle from
        the victim and available witnesses. The following information about the vehicle is
        important:
     1. make;
     2. model;
     3. year;
     4. color
       5. extent and location of damage;
       6. license plate (including partial numbers or letters);
       7. unusual markings or equipment (including school, fraternal or organizational signs
              or stickers);
       8. direction of travel before and after the collision;
       9. number of passengers, if any, and their descriptions.
  C. Descriptive information obtained shall immediately be communicated to the dispatching
         officer.
  D. Officers should search the area around the scene of the crash including the automobile
      which was struck (including the clothing of any pedestrian struck) for physical evidence
        including:
       1. personal property left behind by the offender;
       2. glass fragments or paint chips;
          NOTE: In the event a pedestrian is struck and injured, ask the hospital, if possible,
                to secure any such evidence which may have been dislodged from the victim’s
               clothing during transport.  Also, hospital personnel should be requested to give
               the victim’s clothing and any associated paint chips or glass fragments to police;
       3. pieces of chrome or grill work;
     4. hub caps;
      5. tire marks;
       6. oil, gas or water marks leading away from the scene; and
       7. mud or dirt dislodged on impact.
  E. Photographs and measurements should be taken at the scene when required. This will be
      done at the direction of the Shift Supervisor or detective on scene. Officers should
      examine the person and clothing of the victim. Particularly important are traces of paint
       or parts of the vehicle.  If necessary, an officer may take and preserve articles of clothing
       or other samples of evidence such as hair, blood, etc. Outer clothing should be
      examined for indentations left by impact points of the suspect vehicle as these
     may serve to identify the vehicle.  If such indentations exist, the clothing should be

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carefully preserved to prevent their obliteration.
    F. Officers should be observant for persons foreign to the scene or who are behaving in a
       suspicious manner.
   G. Where appropriate, officers should conduct a door-to-door canvas of residences and
       businesses in the vicinity of the hit and run scene. Often persons who did witness some
       aspect of the incident are reluctant to come forward and must be sought out by the police.
   H. A preliminary search for the suspect car and driver should be conducted as soon as
        possible. Because of the great distance a fleeing vehicle can travel even in a short time,
         all police on patrol plus the State Police and adjacent police departments should be
        notified via the BAPERN radio network and given as complete a description as is then available.
         If the victim dies or is in critical condition and motor vehicle homicide charges are being
       considered, it may be advisable, upon the decision of the Chief or his designee, to contact
       the media. This will facilitate in alerting the public and enlisting their aid in locating the
       suspect vehicle and driver.
     I. If a reasonable effort to apprehend the offender is unsuccessful, officers should
      communicate such to dispatch and return to regular patrol duty unless directed
       otherwise by the proper authority.

III. FOLLOW-UP INVESTIGATION
   A. An in-depth or follow-up investigation should be conducted upon the direction of the
       Detective Sergeant.
   B. The follow-up investigation, if any, should include the following types of activity:
       1. checks of records on stolen cars;
       2. communication of information relative to the description of the offender and
              vehicle to other members of the Department, to police departments in surrounding
             communities and to the State Police;
       3. a second search of the accident scene covering a wider area;
       4. repeated visits to and surveillance of the scene at the same time of the day that the
              accident occurred; and
       5. visits to garages, auto parts dealers, auto glass dealers, car dealers, auto body
               repair shops, car wash facilities, etc.
   C.  If the vehicle involved is located, it should be carefully examined.
       1. Dents and body damage should be measured as to width, depth and pattern.
              Photographs should be taken if possible.
       2. Obtain samples of paint chips, broken glass, pieces of clothing, dirt, evidence of
              blood, hair, flesh, etc.
       3. Inspect the interior for personal articles which may identify the offender.
       4. Observe and note any signs of recent repair or any broken or missing parts.
             Note: The above steps must be taken in accordance with the departmental policy
             and procedure. In the event a search warrant is sought, the vehicle should be kept
             under surveillance until a warrant is obtained. The identity of any person
              attempting to enter the vehicle or to destroy evidence should be established.
   D. If the operator of the suspect vehicle is located, he/she should be questioned promptly.

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If applicable, the Miranda procedures shall be followed. Prompt interrogation of the
   suspect driver is important. For example, if he can not provide an alibi or if he provides
   an alibi that is later discredited, these will be critical factors contributing to a successful
    prosecution.
E. In conducting a hit and run investigation, it should be noted that a hit and run driver is not
    necessarily the operator responsible for the accident, but he may be fleeing the scene of a
    crime. There may be a warrant for his arrest, he may be intoxicated, he may not have a
    valid license or his license may be suspended or revoked.  It is also not unusual for a hit
   and run driver to abandon his vehicle and then report it to the police as stolen in order to
   escape responsibility for the accident.
F. Any hit and run accident reported with personal injury, with a suspect, or with damage
    of approximately one thousand dollars or more, must be followed up with a full and
   complete report including details about the accident and the particulars of any
    follow-up investigation.

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