In January the Butler County District Attorney's office took the initiative in organizing fatal crash reconstructionists as a team to work in a similar way to the DUI Task Force and the Drug Task Force.

The state police have a Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Unit or CARS Unit which responds to fatalities investigated by the state police.

There are three certified officers in that unit. However there are also other officers who are certified in crash reconstruction at municipal police departments. These include Officer Dan Hahn and Officer Bull Alhgren of Cranberry Township, officer Randy Davison of Middlesex Township, Officer Zeke Reed of Jackson Township and Officer Jack Ripper of Penn Township.

Three organizational meetings have taken place and grants are being sought to assist the team with getting special equipment.

A digital video camera was bought for the team by the district attorney's office and has been used at two fatalities. The next equipment the team is looking to acquire are computer animation software programs to assist in trial presentations.

The reason to organize all of these individual experts as a team is to benefit the investigations done with shared expertise and combined resources to do the best investigations possible. The goal of organizing everyone also is to standardize all accident reconstructions by adopting policies and procedures that will be used in all reconstructions done in the county.

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