Identification of the Vehicle of a Hit-and-Run Accident Based on Patterned Evidence

Abstract

Leaving the scene of the traffic crash without reporting is called hit-and-run collision and tracing the alleged vehicle is the main challenge in delivering justice. However, it is not very difficult to trace the vehicle by using Locard’s principle when a vehicle leaves trace evidence either on the body/ clothing or scene. Hit-and-run collisions are a punishable offence as they delay crash notification thereby delaying emergency response which increases the likelihood of traffic fatalities. The following case discussion is based on a dead body of a foot cyclist found at a bend on a byroad in a rural area.He was a 72-year-old carpenter, non-alcoholic, driving an improvised foot cycle run by a motor, which could run up to 40 Kilometres per hour. There was a tire mark on the back side of his shirt. According to the police, the foot cycle had been found fallen on the road without runover injuries. The autopsy revealed multiple blunt force injuries including grazed abrasions on the head, chest, and limbs. Internal organs did not show any significant evidence of natural illness or intoxication. However, there were no paint, grease, glass fragments, etc., or CCTV record evidence. However, a motorcyclist saw a tractor with a trailer stopped beside the victim and the driver was standing by the side and drove off in a while.The absence of paint or grease on the body suggested that the floorboard of the offending vehicle could be higher. The alleged tractor with the trailer was taken into police custody based on a tipoff. According to the Government analyst’s opinion, the tire mark on the shirt was compatible with the tire tread pattern of the right rear tire of the tractor-trailer. The cause of death was multiple injuries to the head and chest due to run-over by a moving vehicle. The importance of examination of clothing in road crashes especially in hit and run is reemphasized in this case.