Sudden Death: A Road Policing Perspective

Abstract

Road deaths remain at a consistent level despite traffic-calming measures and greater road awareness campaigns, so road policing units continue to deal with the carnage of sudden deaths and, frequently, multiple sudden deaths. Families are often devastated by the news of the death of a loved one, but it is the police officer who often must deliver the death message and support relatives in the immediate aftermath of the event. This chapter describes the complexity of managing sudden road deaths: the scene, forensic aspects and the interface between the emergency department, mortuary and Coroner’s Office and the relatives.