MERIDIAN – A recent deadly accident and a proposed texting while driving measure, which is making its way through the Idaho Legislature, are putting the issue of distracted driving on the forefront.
Police often cite distracted driving as the cause of a crash, but oftentimes, what is taking place inside a vehicle moments before a crash is only known by the person in that car.
With an array of technology, Idaho State Police crash reconstruction investigators can tell if a cell phone or other forms of technology were factors in an accident.
Corporal Brandon Eller uses a lot of tools when he investigates a crash. He collects evidence and uses an advanced laser measuring device to piece together just what went wrong, it's called a 'total station'.
“Even with witnesses and even with technology you still resort back to basic evidence gathering,” said Cpl. Eller.
Even with the fancy reconstruction equipment he uses to investigate a crash, sometimes Cpl. Eller needs to see things from a perspective that comes from the inside of the car.
“There are a lot of things going on in the vehicle that can distract your attention,” he said. “We have had collisions where occupants still have the phone in their hands so obviously that's a concern.”
But if a driver has a cell phone, how do investigators really know it was the phone that caused the crash?
“The new phones are basically a small computer they have the ability to image and download data off of those phones,” said Corporal Eller.
ISP has a Cyber Crimes Unit and all of the data on your phone can be accessed and copied for an investigation.
“It will go through and track texts, incoming texts, and the new phones, you can access the internet and all that stuff,” said Eller.
Since 2001, Eller has been reconstructing crashes. It's his job to find the answers, but he is even left with questions at times, “Can we precisely say at the time of the collision this was going on? If we don't have anything other than that, no.”
“I think the important thing is, we can't just always rely on the computer to tell us what's going on, you need to just use your basic skills and look at your evidence and place your evidence together like a piece of a puzzle and once it comes together it gives you a bigger broader picture as to what happened,” he explained.
Data collected from a cell phone obtained by ISP’s Cyber Crimes Unit can determine if a user was texting, receiving a text, surfing their mobile web, Facebooking or using Twitter.
Police do have to ask permission to obtain information from your cell phone. They can also obtain a search warrant, if they feel it’s needed for a criminal case.
