# Accident nvestigation - Why so long?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/accident-nvestigation-why-so-long/544749
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [June 28, 2010, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/accident-nvestigation-why-so-long/544749 "2010-06-28T03:56:46Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@SanDiegoTim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanDiegoTim)
#### Post date: [June 28, 2010, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/accident-nvestigation-why-so-long/544749/1 "2010-06-28T03:56:46Z")
I was caught up in a freeway closure on I-15 today, one in which a CHP officer was killed. The accident occurred at 4:00 AM and the freeway was closed until 1:00 PM. Not to diminish the loss of an officer, but the reports indicate what happened was pretty simple: out of his vehicle, on the shoulder, the officer was struck by a vehicle. The driver was arrested immediately.
I’m just wondering (not complaing) what could take so long with an accident that involved so few people and cars and is basically an open and shut case?
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### Author:  [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)
#### Post date: [June 28, 2010, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/accident-nvestigation-why-so-long/544749/2 "2010-06-28T05:21:20Z")
It takes time to:
[ul][li]Determine who all the witnesses are, get their contact information, and, of course, interview them.[/li][li]Take the necessary measurements of all the pertinent items involved.[/ul][/li]
Perhaps one of the posters here who happens to be a law enforcement officer could expand on this.
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### Author:  [@bsane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bsane)
#### Post date: [June 28, 2010, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/accident-nvestigation-why-so-long/544749/3 "2010-06-28T13:41:55Z")
I wonder how long it’d be closed if it had been a commoner hit and killed?
My uncle was hit and killed crossing with a green light by someone who ran a red light in broad daylight. It was a state road near LA, so it was the CHP investigating. Their ‘investigation’ lasted about 20m and the road was never closed.
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### Author:  [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)
#### Post date: [June 28, 2010, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/accident-nvestigation-why-so-long/544749/4 "2010-06-28T13:48:26Z")
A determination of the driver’s intent could depend heavily on very careful measurements of tire marks, road moisture, lines of sight, etc. The police would want any criminal case arising from this collision to be as airtight as possible.
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### Author:  [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)
#### Post date: [June 28, 2010, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/accident-nvestigation-why-so-long/544749/5 "2010-06-28T13:50:06Z")
I’ve seen accidents here with normal people killed and the road was closed for 4-8 hours. There was a big wreck on a major interstate and they had both directions closed off from 12 noon to at least 5 pm.