Procedure

The scene was surveyed and imported into 3D Studio (many other programs work just as well). The 2005 Ford 500 SEL, 1997 Land Rover Discovery and Freightliner with two 28-ft semi-trailers were used as-is, directly from the HVE-2D Vehicle database. Trial and error simulation using EDSMAC4 revealed the Ford hit the bridge abutment at about 55 mph (the posted speed). The Land Rover was following the Ford at 55 mph. The tractor/trailer was traveling 45 mph. The primary purpose of the reconstruction was to determine why the Ford left the road. A secondary purpose was to determine if the driver of the Land Rover and/or Freightliner had an opportunity to avoid collision, and to try to determine which collision caused the Ford driver's fatal injury.
Learn more about HVE and HVE-2D at www.edccorp.com