CAMBODIA Random driver noticed something strange on the road during his night drive. When he stopped and looked more closely, he discovered with horror that it was the dead body of a woman. She had a completely crushed pelvis and lower limbs – probably caused by being run over by a truck. However, no vehicle was at the scene of the accident, which suggests that its driver probably fled.
One of the onlookers dragged her body to the roadside so that it would not form an obstacle in the roadway. He also covered her with some piece of plastic sheeting. His action is understandable, but not correct. The body should not be touched or otherwise handled until the police arrive, except when the victim still shows some signs of life and needs first aid.
By handling the body you can disturb the position of the body, destroy blood traces, damage fingerprints or fibers, change the character of injuries and contaminate biological traces. All of those are very important investigative points that can clarify for the police, for example, where the accident occurred, identify the vehicle that struck the victim or rule out murder.
If you ever find yourself in a similar situation, visibly mark the obstacle in the roadway to prevent another accident. A warning triangle or your car stopped with hazard lights on works great for this. Immediately call the police to the scene and remain at the site until they arrive. During that time, discourage all bystanders from touching or handling the body in any way. If it is night, don’t forget to wear a reflective vest.
