COLUMBUS – Today a Hilliard Davidson High School forensics class participated in a demonstration of the new online program, Crash Scene Investigation, created by Edheads, a non-profit organization, to educate students on how math and science take part in motor vehicle crash scene investigations. In addition to the new crash scene investigation program, the Edheads Web site, http://www.edheads.org, offers activities ranging from virtual hip or knee replacement surgery to weather and simple machines. Each activity features strong graphics, sound, and animation.

“The Edheads online activity gives students an opportunity to conduct a crash scene investigation,” said Gail Wheatley, Executive Director of Edheads. “The program’s scenario is an easy and fun way for students to learn mathematics and physics as they pertain to crash investigations and the lethal forces that come in to play in high speed crashes. We hope students will begin to understand these forces and the activity will hopefully save some lives.”

The program takes students through every process that an officer completes during a crash investigation - from measuring skid marks to mathematical calculations to interviewing witnesses. Another application available on the site allows the participant to input speed and impairment variables to assess how those variables may change investigatory outcomes.

Although Edheads activities are available to anyone in the world with Internet access, the crash activity features methods that closely resemble those used by Ohio troopers. The Patrol's involvement in the project included helping Edheads developers research, design, and test activities. In particular, the Crash Reconstruction Unit provided the technical support and consultation on the crash investigation process. Math and Science Teachers from Hilliard City Schools also assisted Edheads in the development of the content for the site.

“I think it's important to show students how the lessons they learn in the classroom apply to real-world scenarios. The Edheads program does that in a way that is both interesting and thought-provoking for the students who participate,” said Mrs. Lauren Smith, a teacher at Hilliard Davidson High School.

The CarMax Foundation provided a grant to Edheads for the majority of the funding to make the program possible. The CarMax Foundation is supported by CarMax Inc., the nation's largest retailer of used cars.

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