Traffic Death Notification Procedures

[ckmotorka]

I'm working on a (fiction) story and have managed to give myself a small case of writer's block over a scene. I would like the scene to be somewhat accurate as to what would actually happen in this situation. Here's the scenario: two brothers are playing near a friend's house. One gets hit by a car and severely injured/killed. Police/ambulance arrive. What happens? Does an officer take the one boy back to his house to inform the mother, or does the officer take him to the hospital while someone else deals with the mother, or what? I had envisioned the officer taking the boy home to inform the mother and bring her and the boy to the hospital, but wasn't sure if that's what would happen. Or would someone phone ahead to inform the mother or would the officer do that, or what. I have now effectively given myself the proverbial writer's block because my mind won't move beyond this point and I can't write it because I want it to be somewhat realistic, etc. How do you think this situation would be handled? THANK YOU VERY MUCH IN ADVANCE!!!

[mobrien316]

The child would be taken to the hospital in the ambulance in most circumstances. If the EMS (in consultation with the emergency room doctors) declared him dead at the scene, his body would be covered with a tarp or a sheet and would remain there until someone from the medical examiner's office arrived to investigate.

Either way, after triple-checking the identity of the child, the police would send at least two people (possibly including a chaplain, if available) to the house to notify the family.

[ckmotorka]

Oh, sorry. I wasn't clear. They are brothers. One is hit and taken in the ambulance. It's the second brother I'm wondering about--the one who is not injured.

[sgtbear111]

For a pamphlet on how properly to notify a next-of-kin, go to the Iowa State Attorney General website and get a copy of "In Person - In Time". It is a free public document and an excellent guide for Police, Fire, EMS, Coroners, and Clergy.