Crash Investigation by Northwestern University
Center for Public Safety

The Midwest Center for Traffic Safety is partnering with Northwestern University-Center for Public Safety to bring their catalog of crash investigation courses to our curriculum.

Download Crash Series Catalog

The Core Sequence

Northwestern University Center for Public Safety offers the most respected series of crash investigation and reconstruction courses available for aspiring and experienced professionals. Our five-course sequence begins with an immersive introduction of essential investigative procedures, advances through crucial math and physics concepts and formulas, and concludes with unmatched reconstruction concepts and hands-on techniques. Each course is a prerequisite for the next in the series and is offered in on-ground and online formats. This sequence also is a prerequisite for many of our advanced reconstruction courses. Students who successfully complete the five-course sequence qualify for our NUCPS Traffic Crash Reconstruction Professional email signature logo.

These Classes are a Hybrid Format

BLENDED LEARNING: FLEXIBLE & ENGAGING
Our Blended Learning format combines the convenience of asynchronous online learning with the energy of live classrooms. Each week, you’ll join real-time remote sessions with instructors and peers, while recordings ensure you can review content or catch up if you are unable to attend a live session.

• Blended format combines the flexibility of an asynchronous format with the live sessions of our remote format.
• Weekly remote sessions usually are scheduled two days per week, recorded for later review if attendance isn’t possible.
• Class interaction offer opportunities to engage with classmates and instructors in a live setting or view class recordings at a later time.

• Course pace is slower than the on-ground counterpart, offering more time to complete assignments.

It is not simply zoom for 8 hours! There are instructor projects, interactions, etc.

The core class order is as follows:

Crash Investigation 1
Crash Investigation 2
Math and Physics for Crash Reconstruction
Vehicle Dynamics
Crash Reconstruction 1
Crash Reconstruction 2

Crash Investigation 1

May 4-29. 2026

Hybrid Format

The moments immediately following a traffic collision are crucial, and only a well-trained crash investigator knows how to identify and collect the necessary information at the crash scene and to how begin the interpretation of that evidence. Crash investigators must work quickly to properly preserve significant physical results before the crash scene is altered or evidence disappears.

Based on J. Stannard Baker and Lynn Fricke’s world-renowned text, Traffic Crash Investigation — a copy of which is included in the course tuition — this course is the bedrock of the Center for Public Safety's Crash Investigation & Reconstruction program and incorporates an in-depth study of the skills needed to systematically investigate a traffic crash. Students learn techniques for obtaining information from witnesses and individuals involved in the crash, recognizing and properly recording roadway and vehicle evidence, measuring and photographing the crash scene, and creating sketches and after-crash diagrams. The course also introduces students to the use of electronic devices (EDR) to collect and record at-scene data.

Crash Investigation 2

June 8- July 3, 2026

Hybrid Format

Prerequisites: Crash Investigation 1 (On-Ground or Online)

At-scene traffic crash data collection is useful only if all appropriate data is properly collected, interpreted, and analyzed. Officers and investigators who successfully complete Crash Investigation 2 develop skills in technically preparing crash investigation data and collecting follow-up data. Building upon topics examined in Crash 1, students delve further into the information available at a crash scene, how to properly collect it, and how to initiate its interpretation. Like Crash Investigation 1, the course is rooted in Baker and Fricke’s Traffic Crash Investigation and emphasizes vehicle behavior in crashes, vehicle damage analysis, advanced measuring and mapping, properly downloading and preserving digital evidence from collision investigations, examining road marks and tire damage, and more.

Recently Added Topics include:

Technical Report Writing
Our Crash Data Retrieval Operator course is now included within Crash Investigation 2. Students will complete the course certified to download and preserve event data recorders from vehicles.

Math and Physics for Crash Reconstruction

August 3-6, 2026

Hybrid Format

Prerequisites: Crash Investigation 1 & Crash Investigation 2

This optional sequence course is designed specifically for students who need to learn or review the basic and intermediate mathematics and physics needed for success in Vehicle Dynamics and Traffic Crash Reconstruction 1 & 2.

Lessons begin with the basics of high school-level math and physics and progress through intermediate concepts. Our course instructors review such fundamentals as perimeter and area, order of operations, angle measurements, and unit conversions before advancing to more complex topics, such as linear and quadratic functions, vectors, and Newton’s Laws of Motion. Participants learn the proper use of equations in order to solve for velocity, acceleration, and distances of travel. Students’ confidence and abilities are solidified with practice problems.

Vehicle Dynamics

September 14-25, 2026

Hybrid Format

Prerequisites: Crash Investigation 1 & Crash Investigation; Math & Physics Review for Crash Reconstruction (strongly recommended)

Note: Familiarity with high school-level physics algebra, geometry, and trigonometry is needed. We highly recommend Math & Physics Review for Crash Reconstruction for students who have not learned or reviewed these skills in the last 15 years.

This course introduces students to mathematical formulas and the basic physics used in traffic collision investigation and reconstruction. Instructors present the proper application of physics principles to equations of motion in order to solve for velocity, time, acceleration, and distances of travel. Once these concepts are understood, instruction continues to vehicle braking, drag factors, and coefficients of friction and time-distance analysis.

Traffic Crash Reconstruction 1

October 5-30, 2026

Hybrid Format

Prerequisites: Crash Investigation 1 & 2, Vehicle Dynamics

Note: Familiarity with high school-level physics algebra, geometry, and trigonometry is needed. We highly recommend Math & Physics Review for Crash Reconstruction for students who have not learned or reviewed these skills in the last 15 years.

Learn the foundations of traffic crash reconstruction! Building on the curriculum taught in the first three courses of this series, students learn to understand the determination of how a crash occurred. Based on Lynn Fricke’s textbook, Traffic Crash Reconstruction, curriculum focuses on analyzing and interpreting information that has been collected at lower levels of investigation in order to describe — in as much detail as possible — the crash and the events leading to impact. Students apply the lessons from daily lectures to real-world case study situations — an instruction format that provides students with the training necessary to reconstruct traffic crashes. After successfully completing this course, students will have the ability to reconstruct crash situations using momentum and mechanics. A copy of Traffic Crash Reconstruction is included in the course tuition.

Traffic Crash Reconstruction 2

November 9-December 11, 2026

Hybrid Format

Prerequisites: Crash Investigation 1 & 2, Vehicle Dynamics, Traffic Crash Reconstruction 1

Note: Familiarity with high school-level physics algebra, geometry, and trigonometry is needed. We highly recommend Math & Physics Review for Crash Reconstruction for students who have not learned or reviewed these skills in the last 15 years.

The final course in our foundational series is a continuation of the skills and knowledge learned in Reconstruction 1 and is also based on the Traffic Crash Reconstruction textbook. Through a format that ties lecture material to hands-on analysis, instructors cover conservation of energy and special velocity calculations for situations involving vehicle falls, flips, and rollovers. Students also learn basic skills for analyzing Event Data Recorder information and applying such data to traditional reconstructions. Our expert instructors provide an introduction to the Monte Carlo Statistical Analysis, and students learn to solve momentum-based collision sequences using spreadsheet analysis. Upon successful completion of this course, students will possess the core skills of traffic collision reconstruction and the ability to reconstruct crash situations using energy and statistical analysis of momentum-based crash reconstructions. This course is a prerequisite for other advanced reconstruction offerings.

These Classes are a Hybrid Format

BLENDED LEARNING: FLEXIBLE & ENGAGING
Our Blended Learning format combines the convenience of asynchronous online learning with the energy of live classrooms. Each week, you’ll join real-time remote sessions with instructors and peers, while recordings ensure you can review content or catch up if you are unable to attend a live session.

• Blended format combines the flexibility of an asynchronous format with the live sessions of our remote format.
• Weekly remote sessions usually are scheduled two days per week, recorded for later review if attendance isn’t possible.
• Class interaction offer opportunities to engage with classmates and instructors in a live setting or view class recordings at a later time.

• Course pace is slower than the on-ground counterpart, offering more time to complete assignments.

It is not simply zoom for 8 hours! There are instructor projects, interactions, etc.

Register for Classes

Register for $2700 in classes, receive a 10% discount

Hosted By: Wheaton Police Department/MTSC

Location:Wheaton Fire Department

1 Fapp Circle, Wheaton, IL

CDR Operator, April 30-May 1
CDR Analysis and Application, May 4-8
Pedestrian and Bicycle Crash Reconstruction, May 11-15, 2026
Passenger Vehicle Forensic Mechanical Inspection for Collision Investigators, May 18-22, 2026
Advanced Crash Reconstruction Utilizing Human Factors Research, June 1-5, 2026
Injury Biomechanics and Crash Reconstruction, June 8-10
ADAS Systems, June 15-18, 2026
Advanced Reconstruction with CDR Application, June 22-26, 2026

Already a reconstructionist and looking to add to your knowledge?
Check out the Advanced Series of classes for 2026.
Registration for the advanced series is through Northwestern directly.

Learn more and Register for the Advanced Series

Hotels near the Advanced classes

Residence Inn by Marriott- Offers Government Rates

28500 Bella Vista Parkway

Warrenville, IL 60555

Holiday Inn

150 S. Gary Ave

Carol Stream, Illinois 60188

Midwest Center For Traffic Safety

Illinois Truck Enforcement Association

Crash Investigation by Northwestern University
Center for Public Safety

The Core Sequence

These Classes are a Hybrid Format

The core class order is as follows:

Crash Investigation 1

Crash Investigation 2

Math and Physics for Crash Reconstruction

Vehicle Dynamics

Crash Reconstruction 1

Crash Reconstruction 2

These Classes are a Hybrid Format

Register for Classes

Register for $2700 in classes, receive a 10% discount

Already a reconstructionist and looking to add to your knowledge?
Check out the Advanced Series of classes for 2026.
Registration for the advanced series is through Northwestern directly.

Hotels near the Advanced classes

Midwest Center For Traffic Safety

Illinois Truck Enforcement Association

Crash Investigation by Northwestern University Center for Public Safety

The Core Sequence

These Classes are a Hybrid Format

The core class order is as follows:

Crash Investigation 1

Crash Investigation 2

Math and Physics for Crash Reconstruction

Vehicle Dynamics

Crash Reconstruction 1

Crash Reconstruction 2

These Classes are a Hybrid Format

Register for Classes

Register for $2700 in classes, receive a 10% discount

Already a reconstructionist and looking to add to your knowledge? Check out the Advanced Series of classes for 2026. Registration for the advanced series is through Northwestern directly.

Hotels near the Advanced classes

Crash Investigation by Northwestern University
Center for Public Safety

Already a reconstructionist and looking to add to your knowledge?
Check out the Advanced Series of classes for 2026.
Registration for the advanced series is through Northwestern directly.