Corporal Jon Dobson Jr. serves in the Patrol Operations Bureau, but when he’s not training recruits as a Field Training Officer, he’s responding to serious accidents in Pinellas County with the Major Accident Investigation Team (MAIT). As a team leader, he is on call for two weeks at a time in four week intervals. Although dedication and hard work come with the responsibility, MAIT members agree that providing closure to families impacted by serious crashes is very rewarding.
When Corporal Dobson joined MAIT six years ago, he responded to a hit-and-run crash in Madeira Beach. At 1:00 a.m., a group of teenagers were skateboarding down John’s Pass Bridge and when a pickup truck struck and killed one of the teens. The driver fled northbound on Gulf Boulevard.
As Corporal Dobson conducted interviews about what occurred and gathered information on the driver, he realized what a pivotal role he was playing in the investigation. The victim’s friends and family wanted justice and to know who the driver was that killed their loved one.
“That case was the reason why I wanted to be more involved,” Dobson said. “It made me more passionate, and I realized that being on the team meant I could help bring the family and friends closure.”
A few months after the crash, MAIT had enough evidence to locate and arrest the driver of the pickup truck.
MAIT heavily relies on eyewitnesses of major accidents to put the pieces of the puzzle together, but they also gather video surveillance, use 3D mapping technology, perform complex mathematical equations, and rely on computers to download information from the vehicle’s event data recorder.
“We treat these major accidents like a criminal investigation,” said Sergeant Stephen Bergstrom, who supervised MAIT and the Traffic Enforcement Unit. “There are some technical skills that come into play during the reconstruction of a crash, however, the majority of what we do is very similar to investigating a burglary or a homicide.”
According to Sergeant Bergstrom, MAIT responds to an average of 60 major accidents every year. The sheriff’s office has a total of 29 deputies assigned to MAIT, consisting of three teams that take turns responding to major accidents. In addition to conducting the investigation on scene, responsibilities include visiting the hospital to speak with victims and ensuring the road gets properly cleared of debris
One unique aspect of MAIT is their specialized truck, which contains all of the tools and equipment members need to do their job.
“We have a dedicated vehicle that stores all of our equipment, and we can do everything we need there from scene mapping to closing roadways and road barriers,” Sergeant Bergstrom said. “The sheriff has provided us with that ability to be more effective and efficient because we can go to the warehouse and bring it anywhere in the county. We also help other law enforcement agencies because we have a lot of resources at our disposal.”
Conducting the investigation and cleaning up the roadway are two main functions of MAIT, but they also help the community understand the dangers of speeding and driving under the influence, which are the two primary causes of serious crashes.
Sergeant Bergstrom encourages citizens to keep their eyes on the road when they encounter an accident in the roadway (even though it can be tempting to look over) and avoid running over debris from crashes. He also advises that if you witness an accident to report it immediately and provide as much information as possible to law enforcement.
“If you witness a crash, you should do the right thing by telling us what you saw,” he said. “You’re doing it to help that person who was killed or seriously injured.”
Even though the team stays busy responding to accidents that often involve traumatic scenes, MAIT members continue to serve because they want to make a positive difference in the community.
“For a lot of us in MAIT, it’s the trauma we see that is a top motivator,” Sergeant Bergstrom said. “Knowing that you are willing to go through that process to try and help a family--that’s the passion that keeps our phones on while we’re asleep. The members on the team just want to help.”