How to Get a Crash Report in West Virginia

If the West Virginia State Police investigated your crash, you get the report from the State Police. The West Virginia DMV says you can get a copy by phone or through the State Police website.¹

If any other law enforcement agency investigated, such as a county sheriff or a city police department, you get the report from that agency.^1,3

Crash data reported by law enforcement agencies is also kept in a statewide crash database at the West Virginia Department of Transportation (WVDOT). State law makes the West Virginia Division of Highways its custodian. For traffic accident data, the WVDOT Traffic Accident Data page lists a contact.^3,4,5

By mail: Get WVSP Form 141, the Criminal and Crash Report Request Form. The State Police Traffic Safety Section page links to it. Fill it in. Mail it with your payment and a self-addressed envelope to the West Virginia State Police Traffic Records Section, 701 Jefferson Road, South Charleston, WV 25309.^2,6

By email: Form 141 also lists email as an option for crash reports. Send the completed form to the Traffic Records Section email address printed on it. That address is different from the general State Police FOIA email on the contact page.^2,7

By phone: The State Police Traffic Safety Section page says to call for information or to get a vehicle crash report. The number is on that page and on Form 141. The State Police contact page also lists a Traffic Records (Crash Reports) line.^1,2,6,7

Form 141 asks for the date of the crash, the crash location, the driver or drivers, and the crash report number.²

Fill in all the highlighted items. The form lists incomplete information as a problem with requests.²

Form 141 says to send your request with payment and a self-addressed envelope.²

For a reconstructed crash report, the form asks for the date of the original crash and the original crash report number.²

Form 141 lists $20.00 for a vehicle crash report by mail, $25.00 for a certified vehicle crash report, and $25.00 for a vehicle crash report sent by fax.²

These fees cover reports of 50 pages or less. After 50 pages, each extra sheet costs $1.00.²

The form also lists $25.00 for a set of up to 12 photographs and $50.00 for video or audio tapes.²

A reconstructed crash report is $500.00. A certified or faxed reconstructed crash report is $505.00.²

Pay by certified check, business check, or money order made payable to "Superintendent, West Virginia State Police." The form also accepts credit cards, but not American Express.²

Do not send cash, personal checks, or business starter checks. Fees are non-refundable and must be paid in advance.^2,8

The State Police cannot process your request if the fee is missing or wrong, or if your check or money order is incomplete.²

The State Police rule for Freedom of Information Act requests says the department must respond in writing within five working days of receiving a request.⁸

Form 141 says it is made under the West Virginia Freedom of Information Act. The State Police FOIA rule sets out how any person may inspect and copy public records that the State Police prepare, own, and keep.^2,8

The State Police black out any information on a crash report that could identify a juvenile offender. State law keeps the identity of juveniles charged with crimes confidential.⁹

Besides the State Police, sheriff's departments in all 55 counties and more than 100 municipal police departments investigate crashes in West Virginia.³

If one of them investigated your crash, the West Virginia DMV says you must contact that agency for a copy.¹

The West Virginia DMV Driver's Licensing Handbook says you must report a crash that causes injury, death, or property damage over $1,000. It says to report it by the quickest means possible, orally or in writing, within five days.¹⁰

The handbook says to report it to the local police department if the crash happened inside a city or town. Otherwise, report it to the county sheriff or the nearest State Police office. The handbook cites West Virginia Code §17C-4-6.¹⁰