Accident Reconstruction Specialist Expert Witness

Expert Witness No. 18

Maryland

EDUCATION

General Education

Towson State University, Continuing Studies; College Algebra, Trigonometry, Pre-Calculus, Calculus, Physics, Public Speaking

Fall 1987: Community College of Baltimore, Baltimore, MD Major, Law Enforcement

Accident Reconstruction Training
November 1999, Photomodeler Pro Training - EOS Systems, DeChant Consulting Services, 16 Hours

November 1998, “Traffic Accident Reconstruction & Litigation Seminar: Human, Vehicle And Environmental Factors Involved In Collisions” - Lawyers & Judges Publishing Co., Tucson, Arizona

March 1996, Forensic Mapping - Sokkia Corp., MJC & Associates, 32 Hours

November 1995, Lti Quick Map - Laser Technology, Inc., Totowa, N.J.

June 1991, Occupant Kinematics - University of North Florida, I.P.T.M., Jacksonville, FL

September 1990, Microcomputer Assisted Traffic Accident Reconstruction - Northwestern University, The Traffic Institute, Evanston, IL

June 1990, DWI Detection & Standardized Field Sobriety Testing – U.S. Dept. of Transportation

September 1989, Commercial Vehicle Accident Investigation & Reconstruction - University of North Florida, I.P.T.M., Jacksonville, FL

August 1986, Advanced Traffic Accident Reconstruction - University of North Florida, I.P.T.M., Jacksonville, FL

October 1983, Advanced Accident Investigation - Baltimore Police Dept., Traffic Investigation Unit

October 1983, Mathematical Accident Investigation - Baltimore, MD

AWARDS

1980, Baltimore City Police Department, Commendation Ribbon
1986, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Citation of Merit
1986, City of Baltimore, Mayor’s Citation
1986, City of Baltimore, City Council Resolution
1987, Baltimore City Police Department, Commendation Ribbon
1990, City of Baltimore, Citizen’s Citation
1990, Baltimore City Police Dept., Traffic Division, Letter of Commendation
1991, City of Baltimore, Citizens Citation,
1993, Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office, Letter of Commendation

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Consultant 1990 - Present
Expertise in the areas of: Highway Accident Reconstruction specializing in collision dynamics, vehicle speed calculations, direction of principal force emphasizing the relative movement of vehicles and occupant positioning.  Lamp examinations for determining on/off position at impact, trace evidence collection, referencing pedestrian and occupant contact points, analysis of occupant restraint utilization.  Tractor-Trailer and motorcycle collision dynamics and speed determination.  Vehicle and roadway data collection utilizing electronic mapping, scale diagramming for use as demonstrative evidence.  Primary Reconstructionist on over 1200 collisions, secondary Reconstructionist on over 3500 accidents.  Specialized testing, visibility determination.  Has provided expert testimony in Federal, State & Local courts.

1989 – 1999
Baltimore Police Department Traffic Investigation Unit
Chief Accident Coordinator/Instructor: Perform computerized damage based collision analysis.  Lead instructor in the areas of Accident Reconstruction, Computer Assisted Reconstruction and Scene Diagramming, Mathematics, Physics. Provide Expert testimony for the City of Baltimore.

1983 – 1989
Baltimore Police Department Traffic Investigation Unit
Field Accident Investigator/Reconstructionist: Investigate and reconstruct fatal & possible fatal vehicular collisions.  Provide causation analysis and place criminal charges where applicable.  Provide expert court testimony as required in criminal and civil prosecutions.

1979 – 1983
Baltimore Police Department Northwestern District
District patrol officer in the City of Baltimore, Investigated and prosecuted crimes from shoplifting to homicide, served as a Field Training Officer for the Education and Training Division.  Investigated and prosecuted approximately 100 vehicular collisions annually.

2000 Nationwide Insurance Company, Accident Reconstruction
1999 Maryland State Bar Association, MICPEL, Automobile Accident Institute
1999 Harford County Bar Association, Accident Reconstruction
1999 Maryland/DC Utilities Association – Safety Committee, Accident Reconstruction
1999 State Farm Insurance Company, Accident Reconstruction
1998 Baltimore County Bar Association, Accident Reconstruction
1998 Nationwide Insurance Company, Accident Reconstruction
1987 Lions Club International, The Science of Accident Reconstruction
1990, 1991, 1992 Baltimore City Office of Occupational Medicine & Safety, Operation Prom Night

TESTIMONY EXPERIENCE

Maryland Circuit and District Courts in
Baltimore City
Anne Arundel County
Baltimore County
Cecil County
Carroll County
Frederick County
Harford County
Howard County
Montgomery County
Prince George’s County
Washington County
United States District Court of Maryland
Delaware
Sussex County
West Virginia
Berkeley County
Jefferson County

RESEARCH PROJECTS

1999, Acceleration Values for Turning Vehicles, Testing to determine an average acceleration rate for vehicles executing a left turn.

1995 – 1996, Alternative Accident Site Dimensioning Devices, Testing to evaluate Electronic Total Stations & Laser Measuring Devises.

1991,Two-Dimensional Computer Simulations of Collisions using EdSMAC & EdSVS computer programs, Develop an instructional aid for police investigators to animate single and multi-vehicle collisions.

1991,“Crush” Based Speed Analysis, Develop a training manual for police investigators in the area of “Crush Based” collision analysis using the EdCrash computer software.

1989, Damage Based Computer Analysis Software, Research and testing of computer software for collision analysis

1989, Responsible for the computerization of the Traffic Division & Investigation Unit, Completed a project to revamp the inner workings of the Traffic Division and Investigation Unit to a completely computerized entity.  Databases were created to track statistics relating to collision types and locations.  Hand drawn scale diagrams were replaced entirely with computer generated diagrams.  Standard Operating Procedure manuals were re-written to include manuals on the new computer based systems.  Investigators were trained in the use of the new computer based systems.  Databases were created to organize and search accident diagrams and reports.  A database was created to organize scale models of vehicles, which were created using a CAD system.  Templates for all quarterly, semi-annual and annual reports were created using computer-based graphics and processing programs.  The FARS (Fatal Accident Reporting System) for Baltimore City Police was converted from a logbook to a computer driven system.  Inventory databases were created to track the equipment assigned to the Traffic Division.  Clerical staff were trained in the use of “Word Processing” systems that replaced typewriters.  Template reports were created for use in collecting field data which would later be input into the computer systems)

1988, Measurement of Tire/Roadway Frictional Coefficients, Comparative testing of computerized accelerometers vs. conventional methods to determine roadway frictional values.

1988, Computer Assisted Drawing Systems, Develop a computer assisted drawing program for use by the Traffic Investigation Unit of the Baltimore City Police Department to diagram all investigated accidents.

1987, Create an entry-level manual for use by the Traffic Investigation Unit of the Baltimore Police Department.  Authored a manual titled “Basic Accident Investigation.”

1987, Computer Program, Basic Mathematical Formula, Created a mathematical computer program for use in hand help programmable calculators.

1986, Measurement of Tire/Roadway Frictional Values, Created a low cost, lightweight portable device to measure tire/roadway coefficient values.  The device is still in use by the Baltimore City Police Department and was utilized in the past by allied police agencies.

1986 “Pedestrian Walking Speed Survey”, Walking speed tests conducted with over 200 test subjects, of varied ages and at varied locations to determine an average walking speed for each age group.

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

1986 – Present The Society of Accident Reconstructionists
1979 – Present The Fraternal Order of Police
1996 – Present The Professional Society of Forensic Mapping