Virginia Commonwealth University

VCU Transportation Safety Training Center

Fundamentals of Crash Investigation and Reconstruction

Each fiscal year, TSTC offers four fundamentals of crash investigation and reconstruction courses. The two-week long course imparts the knowledge and skills required for detailed crash investigation and combines classroom lectures with practical field exercises.

Topics include:

  • Coefficient of friction
  • Computing speeds from yaw marks and skid marks
  • Lamp examination
  • Vehicle and occupant kinematics
  • Indicators of safety belt use
  • Identifying and documenting evidence
  • Traffic law
  • Measuring the scene
  • Scale diagramming

The course fee is $85. Students receive a textbook, course notebook, traffic template and quick reference handbook. Transportation, lodging and meals are the responsibility of each student. The Department of Criminal Justice Services will award 34 elective and four legal hours upon completion of this course.

Training dates/locations

Please check back in late September for 2008-2009 training dates and locations.

Register for “Fundamentals of Crash Investigation and Reconstruction” online.

For additional information, call (804) 828-6235, e-mail Mike Sorensen or view the brochure [PDF].



  • 1312 West Main Street
  • P.O. Box 843023
  • Richmond, Virginia 23284-3023