NCJ Number
195931
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 47 Issue: 3 Dated: May 2002 Pages: 625-629
Date Published
2002
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This article recounts a forensic investigation involving the use of paint samples in order to determine the circumstances of a fatal traffic accident.
Abstract
The authors recount a case in which an autobike rider in Taiwan was killed in an accident that involved two other vehicles. During the ensuing investigation, a dispute arose regarding whether the two other vehicles were involved in a direct crash. The authors recount how paint samples were collected from the two vehicles and submitted to a thorough microscopic examination of their surfaces. The objective of the analysis was to determine if the paint samples could have originated from a common source, in this case one of the vehicles under investigation. The authors describe three methods used to analyze the paint samples and how each method by itself was insufficient for drawing conclusions concerning the source of the paint. However, when used together, the authors show how the insufficiencies in each method were relieved and inferences were thus made regarding the source of the paint. 2 Tables, 13 references