The painstaking, time-consuming process behind killer car crash investigations

They are not accidents. They are crashes with clear causes.

And it's the job of a small, specially trained unit of Hamilton police detectives to figure out what happened when someone is killed or seriously hurt in a crash on Hamilton streets.

These collisions that result in death are homicides unless proven otherwise," said Det. Const. Ben Paterson of the collision reconstruction unit (CRU). We treat each (case) with the utmost respect and care."

The team of expert detectives are called to the worst crashes. In Hamilton that includes a troubling spike in pedestrian deaths - eight in the first four months of 2022. To compare, there were nine pedestrian deaths all of last year.

Just too many collisions and too may lives lost on our roadways, which is very unsettling," Paterson said.

Distracted driving, speeding, aggressive driving and impaired driving are the big four collision causes. But other factors include whether a pedestrian had the right of way when crossing a road.

There is no single factor that stands out in the recent pedestrian deaths, Paterson said.

In a crash investigation, CRU detectives will first look at whether criminal charges are warranted. Then police will look at whether Highway Traffic Act or bylaw charges are more appropriate. Sometimes crash investigations don't end in any charges, including when the person whose actions caused the crash is dead.

These investigations are complex and often take time, for instance, police can wait months for autopsy results that include toxicology.

In Hamilton, collision reconstruction is a four-person team. In addition to Paterson there are detective constables Wes Wilson and Steve Cruickshanks. Det. Const. Hendrik Vandercraats recently retired and Det. Const. Gerald Blanchard is training as traffic investigator.

To become a CRU member, the officers need to have shown a dedication to road safety, including experience in impaired-driving laws and driving offences, Paterson said. All members have worked as certified breath technicians and have between 17 and 24 years in policing. The reconstructionists training takes about three months.

CRU officers typically work in teams of two. One detective will act as lead investigator, looking at all evidence. The other will act as the collision reconstructionist, only doing the technical scene assessments without the influence of other evidence, such as witness statements.

At the scene, the reconstructionist is looking for what caused the crash. This can include skid marks from tires or gouge marks in the roadway. Detectives can measure the length of a skid mark and use it to calculate the minimum speed of the vehicle.

CRU detectives look at how the vehicle interacted with whatever it struck. In cases involving pedestrians, vehicle damage can tell them where someone was hit and what happened after impact. They also look for pieces of evidence from the pedestrian, such as paint transferred onto clothing or biological evidence. The roadway is examined for any markings, such as scuffs from shoes.

Vehicles involved are also examined to see if there are any mechanical issues. While police find vehicles that are not considered road safe, it's uncommon for mechanical issues to cause serious crashes.

In the last couple of years, Hamilton police have access to a laser scanner that can build 3D renderings of crash scenes, Paterson said. And recently Hamilton's CRU detectives have access to a drone.

Each scene comes with its own complexities," he said.

In cases where the autopsy shows a person died of a medical issue and not from the collision, those deaths are not counted as crash deaths. Similarly, police don't count suicides in fatal collision statistics.

Part of the work of CRU detectives is also meeting with the families of crash victims. They are tragic and difficult cases for police to investigate.

We rely on each other," Paterson said of the CRU team, adding that it's important to make sure our heads are level," including seeking help when needed.

There are some unsolved cases - some recent, some more than 10 years old - in which detectives believe there are witnesses who have not come forward with vital information.

• Jan. 17, 2022, 67-year-old Hussein Hassoun was struck in a hit and run on the Red Hill Valley Parkway involving a snow plow. He died in hospital 12 days later.

• Sept. 17, 2021, a 76-year-old man was struck and killed in a hit and run walking on the shoulder of Centre Road near Concession Road 5.

• March 22, 2011, Hlias Kotsopoulos and his wife were hit crossing Green Road on the south side of Barton Street East. She was seriously hurt, but recovered. Hlias was dragged about 100 metres by the southbound vehicle and killed.

• June 20, 2018, 24-year-old Troy Armstrong was killed in a hit and run at Upper Centennial Parkway and Rymal Road.

Witnesses with crucial information sometimes believe and hope others will come forward, that someone else will step up, Paterson said. But without answers, they remain open investigations.

Anyone with information on any fatal crash can call the collision reconstruction unit at 905-546-4753 or 905-546-4755.

Nicole O'Reilly is a crime and justice reporter at The Spectator. noreilly@thespec.com