Researcher: Troy Walden, Ph.D.
Sponsor: Texas Department of Transportation
CTS researchers performed an analysis of crash data in CRIS to determine drivers who were involved in alcohol-related crashes across all 254 counties in Texas. The data were used to identify which medical examiners and/or county coroners/justices of the peace are responsible for reporting blood alcohol concentration (BAC) results to TxDOT crash records. Researchers developed a process flow for the BAC-reporting responsibilities of medical examiners and justices of the peace who act as coroners, identified how each county handles toxicology testing related to crashes believed to be alcohol or drug related, and increased BAC reporting by medical examiners and justices of the peace acting as coroners.