After this crash, no need to call the cops

(State Police Photo)

The moment of impact.

By Martin Finucane, Globe Staff

When two cars crashed this afternoon at the former Fort Devens, there was no need to look for a police officer.

About two dozen state troopers swarmed the scene, while about 40 prosecutors observed the crash and the accident scene investigation. The event was staged by the state police as part of a Massachusetts District Attorney's Association training program.

State police said they were demonstrating how investigators use scientific techniques to reconstruct a crash, ultimately determining its cause and whether charges should be filed.

During today's demonstration, one car cruising at 39 mph smashed into the side of another car that was going about 10 mph, said Lieutenant David Wilson, a state police spokesman.

Wilson said the collision, which took place at the state police driver training facility, was also part of the training for the accident investigators.

The crash was filmed by a Discovery Channel crew for an upcoming show and one of the cars was driven by independent crash expert and Discovery host W.R. "Rusty" Haight, Wilson said.

Haight wasn't injured, Wilson said in a telephone interview from Devens.

"He is still walking around right now," he said.

• Comment
• Permalink
• Email