HAMMOND | Local police are learning to read volumes from pavement markings, twisted metal and other clues left by traffic accidents.

Hammond police Sgt. Pat Vicari is teaching an advanced course in crash site investigations to more than 30 officers from several communities, said John Key, administrator of the Lake County Drug Free Alliance.

The Alliance is contributing $14,000 to pay for the training. He said the Alliance also is providing $50,000 to purchase drunken-driving testing equipment.

Vicari said on-site investigations following accidents can yield the speed of the cars involved in the accidents as well as clues about the drivers' reaction times and other critical factors.

A number of late-model cars now have event data recorders, commonly called auto black boxes. The devices can provide vehicle speeds, acceleration, whether the brakes engaged and whether seat belts were being worn or air bags deployed.

Vicari said the instruction also includes calculating how alcohol or narcotics factor into the cause of accidents.

Organizers of the training said such a program's importance is highlighted by a Sept. 15 accident that claimed the lives of two West Side High School students, Brandon Smith and Dominique Green, both 18.

Families of the victims have criticized Gary police for failing to search the accident site for the teens, who were ejected from a car that smashed through a guardrail and plunged into a ravine along the 2700 block of Chase Street.

Arthur Smith, Brandon's father, found his missing son and Green at the accident site hours after the crash.