Evidence may be lost more quickly in aquatic accidents, but the remaining details can still tell the story of a collision. With the help of witness statements and careful crash diagramming, investigators can discern the events leading to a collision, especially when statements disagree with one another.
Police in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, are currently reviewing a boat crash involving a speedboat and a deck boat that left several people dead. The incident occurred in the evening with both vessels coming around a blind bend in a river. The operator of the speedboat was highly intoxicated at the time of the crash, according to investigators. Whether that was substantial enough to cause the collision is still up for debate.
Accident diagramming, however, may shed light on the events that took place. Police are mapping out damage to both ships and comparing it to the position and paths in the water both vehicle drivers admit to taking before the collision. Using debris in the water as a benchmark, investigators can even pin down a somewhat accurate location where the crash would have occurred. These tools will help law enforcement make an accurate assessment of the scene.