0640.50 Traffic Crash Investigations
Refer:
• ORS 801.400 Premises Open to the Public, defined
• ORS 801.608 Vulnerable User of a Public Way
• ORS 810.460 Officer’s Crash Report; Use
• ORS 811.720 When Accident Must Be Reported to Department of Transportation
• DIR 0220.40, Lawsuits and Claims
• DIR 0315.30, Satisfactory Performance
• DIR 0630.05, Vehicle Interventions and Pursuits
• DIR 0630.60, Vehicle Disposition and Impoundment
• DIR 0640.52, Vehicle Collision Review Board
• DIR 0640.54, Prisoner/Suspect Damage to City Property
• DIR 0700.00, National Incident Management System and Incident Command System
• DIR 0860.10, Traffic Citations and Arrests
• DIR 0905.00, Non-Force After Action Reporting, Review, and Investigation
• DIR 1010.00, Use of Force
• DIR 1010.10, Deadly Force and In-Custody Death Reporting and Investigation Procedures
• Oregon Police Traffic Crash Report (Traffic)
• Oregon Traffic Collision and Insurance Report (Traffic) Report of Automobile Collision or Loss (City)
• Traffic Crash Exchange Form (Traffic)
• Uniform Traffic Citation and Summons (Traffic)
Definitions:
• Fatal Vehicle Crash: A traffic crash that causes the death of one or more persons.
• Non-Traffic Crash: A vehicle crash that occurs on private property or premises that is not open to the public.
• Potential Fatal Crash: A traffic crash that produces critical injuries that are likely to result in death as determined by EMS personnel.
• Traffic Crash: Any unintentional crash involving a motor vehicle and another vehicle, person or object, originating on a public highway or on premises open to the public, which results in property damage, personal injury or death. Incidents involving structured training exercises (i.e., In-service, Advanced Academy, etc.) through the Training Division (Training) or Traffic Division (Traffic) are not classified as traffic crashes.
• Vulnerable Road Users: A pedestrian, highway worker, person riding an animal or a person operating, or riding on, any of the following on a public way, crosswalk or shoulder of the highway: A farm tractor or implement of husbandry, skateboard, roller skates, in-line skates, a scooter, a bicycle, a moped, or a motorcycle.
Policy:
1. This directive establishes the procedures for members responding to and investigating traffic crashes.
Procedure:
1. Investigation Criteria.
1.1. Members shall investigate the following types of crashes:
1.1.1. Fatal crashes.
1.1.2. Physical injuries with entry into the Regional Trauma System by on-scene Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel.
1.1.3. Accidents involving physical injury to Vulnerable Road Users who is transported by ambulance
1.1.4. Drivers who are under the influence of intoxicants.
1.1.5. Drivers who fail to perform the duties required of them at the scene of a traffic crash (hit and run).
1.1.6. Hazardous material spills.
1.1.6.1. Members should determine if a trained motor carrier officer is on duty from the Traffic Division or other precincts to assist in the investigation.
1.1.7. An emergency code run by the police, whether or not a police vehicle was involved.
1.1.8. When a citation is issued to a driver involved in a crash for a violation other than a vehicle licensing, operator licensing or financial responsibility statute.
1.2. Members will disposition the call with the appropriate clearance code.
1.3. Supervisors shall review deliberate member police action that occurs during a vehicle pursuit (e.g., pursuit intervention strategies) in accordance with Directive 0630.05, Vehicle Interventions and Pursuits.
1.4. Members shall complete an Oregon Police Crash Report in their investigation, when required under ORS 811.720:
1.4.1. Any crash on a highway or premise open to the public resulting in death or injury.
1.4.2. Any crash on a highway or premise open to the public resulting in $2,500 or more in damages.
2. Trauma Injury and Non-Injury Crashes.
2.1. Members dispatched by the Bureau of Emergency Communications (BOEC) shall treat all crashes as potential crime scenes.
2.2. Upon arrival at a crash scene, members shall determine if the crash meets the investigation criteria listed in Section 1.1.
2.3. Members may investigate all other crashes that do not meet the investigative criteria and are encouraged to:
2.3.1. Provide assistance and information to involved persons, such as completing and issuing copies of a Traffic Exchange Report to involved parties if the exchange of information has not already occurred.
2.3.2. Check all drivers for warrants, driving privileges, proof of insurance and registration violations.
2.3.3. Cite violators, when feasible.
2.4. If involved parties have been transported to a hospital prior to the member’s arrival, the member shall consult with on-scene EMS, or BOEC if EMS has left the scene, to determine if the crash is a fatal crash or if any person will be entered into the Regional Trauma System.
2.5. If an investigation is required by policy or ORS, the member may request a member from the Traffic Division to respond to investigate. If a member from the Traffic Division is unavailable, the member shall investigate and complete the Oregon Police Crash Report, when appropriate under ORS.
2.6. If the crash does not need to be investigated and it is not feasible to do so, the member may assist the involved drivers as needed and facilitate clearing the scene of debris and vehicles.
2.7. Members shall ensure the appropriate report includes statements from involved drivers, passengers, and witnesses. The report should also include documentation of injuries, if known, obtained in accordance with applicable laws. Members may obtain this information by interviewing the involved persons at the hospital if necessary.
2.7.1. Members shall follow up with the injured person at the hospital to obtain statements if the person cannot initially respond to the member’s inquiries due to the severity of their injuries.
3. Potential Fatal and Fatal Vehicle Crashes.
3.1. Member Responsibilities.
3.1.1. Secure the crash scene and treat it as a crime scene.
3.1.2. Advise an on-duty precinct supervisor that it is a fatal or potential fatal crash.
3.1.3. If MCT is paged out, the lead investigator for the Traffic Investigation Unit (TIU) shall complete the general offense report (GO) and the Oregon Police Traffic Crash Report. All other members who assisted on the call shall document information and/or evidence they collected on a supplemental police report and submit a copy to the investigating member before the end of their shift.
3.1.4. If the MCT is not paged out and a Traffic Unit is available, the Traffic Unit should be dispatched to be the lead investigator on the traffic crash.
3.2. Precinct Supervisor Responsibilities.
3.2.1. If there are no on-duty Traffic members, the supervisor shall contact an MCT supervisor via BOEC and request a MCT Sergeant page for a consultation.
3.2.2. Supervisors shall note all available relevant information and evidence and present it to the MCT Sergeant during the consultation call.
3.2.3. The Supervisor on scene shall ensure that the primary officer or the officer with the most information related to the crash investigation is present for the briefing.
3.2.4. The Supervisor on scene shall page the Public Information Officer (PIO) as soon as practicable.
3.3. Hit and Run Crashes with Suspect and Vehicle Information.
3.3.1. Members responding to the scene shall:
3.3.1.1. Complete an Oregon Police Crash Report.
3.3.1.2. Place holds on a vehicle only when required to locate or identify a suspect, or to collect and preserve evidence.
3.3.1.3. Conduct investigative follow up, if feasible.
3.3.1.3.1. TIU / Traffic Officers will assist on additional follow-up investigations of hit and run crashes per the Traffic Division’s Standard Operating Procedures (SOP). This will be done based on the seriousness of the injuries, type of investigation assistance needed and availability of TIU/Traffic resources.
3.3.1.3.2. All non-injury, minor injury or property damage cases will be handled by the primary officer assigned to the traffic crash.
3.4. Hit and Run Crashes without Suspect Information.
3.4.1. The Operational Support Unit (OSU) may investigate calls forwarded from BOEC regarding hit and run crashes that do not involve injury and for which there is no suspect or suspect vehicle information.
3.5. Police Vehicle Crashes.
3.5.1. A Traffic Division member shall investigate crashes that involve Bureau-owned or -leased vehicles. If no Traffic member is available, a precinct member shall assume investigative duties.
3.5.1.1. Members involved in a crash shall:
3.5.1.1.1. Immediately notify BOEC and a supervisor.
3.5.1.1.2. Complete the following reports:
3.5.1.1.2.1. Report of Automobile Collision or Loss (Damage to City Property Form).
3.5.1.1.2.2. Appropriate police report.
3.5.1.1.2.3. Oregon Traffic Collision and Insurance Report, if required by ORS 811.720 (Injury, Tow, Over $2500 damage to any vehicle).
3.5.1.1.2.4. The insurance information for city vehicles is City of Portland – Bureau of Risk Management 1120 SW 5th Ave., Room 1012 Policy # SI CERT # 25
3.5.1.2. Investigating members shall:
3.5.1.2.1. Complete an Oregon Police Traffic Crash Report if reportable as defined in ORS 811.720 (Injury, Tow, Over $2500 damage to any vehicle).
3.5.1.2.2. Complete an appropriate police report with a diagram that captures driver information (diagram required only if the vehicles have not been moved); vehicle information; insurance information; road conditions; lighting in the area; weather at the time of the crash; causal factors of the crash; contributing factors that led to the crash; and any other relevant information that explains how, why, when and where the crash occurred.
3.5.1.2.3. The primary officer shall photograph all vehicles, roadways, evidence, and street sign locations, regardless of if the vehicles have been moved or not.
3.5.1.3. Supervisor responsibilities:
3.5.1.3.1. Complete a Non-Force After-Action Report in accordance with Directive 0905.00, Non-Force After Action Reporting, Review, and Investigation, for all crashes involving Bureau vehicles.
3.5.1.3.2. The responding supervisor shall ensure the scene has been photographed (e.g., vehicles, roadway, evidence).
3.5.1.3.3. If for any reason the on-scene supervisor deems that the crash is of significant nature that warrants a more thorough investigation, the supervisor shall page the MCT for consultation.
3.5.1.3.3.1. If the responding supervisor consults with the MCT, the supervisor shall pause the investigation until it is determined whether the MCT will or will not respond.
3.5.1.3.4. The on-scene supervisor shall request the assistance of a Traffic sergeant, if available.
3.6. City-Owned or -Leased Vehicles.
3.6.1. Members investigating crashes involving city-owned or- leased vehicles within the city limits will complete the Oregon Police Traffic Crash Report if the crash is reportable as defined in ORS 811.720.
3.7. Crashes Outside the City of Portland.
3.7.1. Members involved in a vehicle crash outside the city limits and while driving a City-owned or -leased vehicle shall notify a supervisor and request that the local law enforcement agency having jurisdiction investigate the crash.
• Effective: 3/20/2025
• Next Review: 3/20/2027