Forensic science sheds light on every skid mark, crash, and clue, ensuring justice is served to road crash victims.
Highway accidents are one of the leading causes of death and injury in India, with over 1.5 lakh lives lost annually, many on highways. Highways often become hotspots for accidents due to speeding, drunk driving, and poor road conditions. Forensic science uncovers the truth behind such tragic events by applying scientific principles to analyse evidence, removing speculation, and ensuring justice for victims.
In highway accident investigations, tire marks (impressions from stationary or moving tires) reveal the direction of travel, while skid marks (friction marks like skid, yaw, and scuff marks) provide insights into sudden manoeuvres: braking attempts and loss of control. Crash reconstruction tools like 3D modelling and simulations assess impact forces, vehicle speeds, and the sequence of events. By analysing the length, width, and patterns of these marks, experts can identify vehicle types, detect faulty brakes or tire defects, and estimate the collision point.
To extract digital evidence from vehicles, forensic experts first document key details such as the vehicle's make, model, VIN, and odometer reading and conduct a physical inspection with photographs. Using forensic tools like Berla iVe software, they access the infotainment system or other modules. If present, removable media like SIM cards or SD cards are extracted separately. For non-destructive methods, data is retrieved directly, but if deeper access is needed, a chip-off extraction is performed with written approval, as it is destructive. Extracted data, including vehicle speed, braking, GPS logs, and system activities, is analysed to reconstruct events.
Forensic toxicology tests are used to detect alcohol or drugs at the time of the crash. CCTV footage can capture crucial moments of the accident, helping to validate or challenge eyewitness accounts. DNA and blood analysis are used to identify victims, determine the cause of death, and assess the presence of substances. Weather and environmental conditions, like rain or poor lighting, can affect driving conditions. Forensic photography documents the accident scene and helps preserve evidence for legal proceedings. Together, these elements provide a comprehensive understanding of the incident, helping to establish accountability.
Recently in the Pune Porsche Crash (May 2024), forensics revealed the car’s speed of over 150 km/h and the intoxication of the underage driver, ensuring accountability. The Yamuna Expressway Crash (January 2024) exposed tire failure due to improper air pressure, stressing vehicle maintenance. The Cyrus Mistry Accident (2022) underscored the importance of rear seatbelts, while the Balasore Train Tragedy (2023) revealed signal lapses, leading to safety improvements. Actor Salman Khan's car allegedly ran over five people sleeping on a pavement in Mumbai, killing one and injuring four. Salman was accused of rash and negligent driving and fleeing the scene. Four men were charged with intentionally dragging 20-year-old Anjali Singh to death under a car (2023), despite chances to save her, while two others were accused of misleading the investigation. Forensic experts reconstructed the case by analysing the crime scene and examining skid marks, blood traces, and clothing fragments along the route. The car was examined for bloodstains and fibres, while CCTV footage, GPS data, and call records were analysed to track the vehicle's movements and timeline.
Between 2018 and 2022, 2.45 lakh deaths were reported in hit-and-run cases in India, but only 33,212 cases resulted in convictions. Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra lead in hit-and-run fatalities, accounting for a significant share of deaths. The Supreme Court stated that delay in filing an FIR does not reject motor accident claims unless the evidence is weak or insufficient. Despite a rising conviction rate, improving from 28% in 2018 to 47.9% in 2022, over 2 lakh cases remain pending. With rising highway accidents, strengthening forensic capabilities is crucial.
(Dr. Kumar is a former IPS officer and forensic consultant to Assam government. Das is a student of FSU, Guwahati. Views personal.)
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