Fatal hit-and-run crashes: Factors associated with leaving the scene.

INTRODUCTION

Hit-and-run crashes are a criminal offense that leave the victim without prompt medical care or the ability to receive financial compensation.

METHOD

The purpose of the current study was to quantify the factors associated with the probability that a driver leaves the scene of a fatal crash, using multiple imputation to incorporate information from drivers who were never apprehended and thus whose characteristics were unknown.

RESULTS

The results of this study show that in addition to driver, vehicle, and environmental factors having significant impacts on the likelihood of a driver fleeing the scene, economic and demographic factors are important as well. Practical Applications: This analysis allows for a more holistic understanding of hit-and-run crashes and informs potential countermeasures and future research.