Staff

 

DWAYNE 'RED' OWEN

Dwayne “Red” Owen is a Certified Accident Reconstructionist with over 45 years of experience in reconstructing crashes involving vehicles ranging from tractor-trailers to motorcycles. He has trained in the retrieval and analysis of data from engine and airbag control modules (black boxes) and has studied the operation and maintenance of heavy truck airbrake systems at Bendix. He is also an experienced motorcyclist who has taught over 100 students through the Motorcycle Safety Foundation Rider Course.

Mr. Owen co-authored three chapters in Traffic Accident Litigation, Third Edition and Traffic Accident Litigation, Second Edition, published by the American Bar Association, and co-authored Vehicle Accident Investigation: A Guide for Risk Managers and Claims Personnel. He was also an invited lecturer at the European Accident Reconstruction Conference in Switzerland where he spoke on his own testing in vehicle deceleration.

What follows is a listing of Mr. Owen’s education, training, experience, certifications, publications, and professional activities. View his complete curriculum vitae (pdf) for more information.

Please contact Dwayne Owen if you would like to discuss the facts of your case.

Certifications
  • Certified Accident Reconstructionist, since February 1989
  • Certified Crash Data Retrieval System Operator, since January 2004
  • Certified Forensic Examiner, since January 1998
  • Class A Commercial Driver’s License with Endorsements (current)
  • Motorcycle Instructor, Basic RiderCourse, RiderCoach Certification, April, 2003
  • Motorcycle Instructor RiderCourse Certification, October, 1997
Education

1968–70

Milwaukee School of Engineering, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Electronic Communication program

1967–68

Highland Community College, Freeport, Illinois, Pre-Engineering Program

Various police training schools, including those at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Northwestern University at Evanston

Areas of instruction

Motor Vehicle: 872 class hours

Criminal: 467 class hours

Administration: 232 class hours

Safety: 212 class hours

Specialized Training
  • Recon-3D User Group Training, Zoom conference, February 20, 2024 (5 hours)
  • NAPARS Heavy Vehicle EDR Update, Zoom conference, July 28, 2023 (2 hours)
  • Cloud Compare Training, Zoom conference, June 27-28, 2023 (8 hours)
  • Recon-3D User Group Training, Zoom conference, March 21, 2023 (5 hours)
  • SAE International’s Accident Reconstruction Digital Summit 2023, Zoom conference, March 1-2, 2023 (5 hours)
  • Recon-3D Training Course and Measurement Validation, Zoom conference, February 21, 2023 (8 hours)
  • 2022 HVE Forum, Zoom conference, February 28, 2022 (4 hours)
  • FARO 3D Visualization Software Course, FARO Academy, July 9, 10 & 26, 2019 (18 hours)
  • Roadside Inspection Course – Vehicle Requirements, Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance, Oak Park, WI, June 24 – 28, 2019 (40 hours)
  • IATAI Traffic Crash Reconstruction Conference, Springfield, IL, October 4-6, 2017
  • Digital Forensics of Heavy Vehicle Event Data Recorders (Engine Control Modules), University of Tulsa, Tulsa, OK, July 11-13, 2017 (20 hours)
  • Investigation of Motorcycle Crashes, Institute of Police Technology and Management, University of North Florida, Joliet, IL, November 7-11, 2016 (35 hours)
  • IATAI Traffic Crash Reconstruction Conference, East Peoria, IL, September 21-23, 2016
  • IATAI Traffic Crash Reconstruction Conference, East Peoria, IL, September 16-18, 2015
  • ARAS 360HD Advanced Computer Diagramming and Animation for Incident Reconstruction, September 24-26, 2013 (18 hours)
  • IATAI Traffic Crash Reconstruction Conference, East Peoria, IL, September 18-20, 2013
  • Crash Data Retrieval User’s Seminar, Houston, TX, January 21-23, 2013 (20 hours)
  • How to Interpret Commercial Vehicle Event Data Recorders (Engine Control Modules), University of Tulsa, Tulsa, OK, November 15-19, 2010 (40 hours)
  • European Conference for Accident Reconstruction 2009, Pedestrian and Two Wheeler Crash Testing (Pedestrians, Bicycles, Motorcycles), Wildhaus, Switzerland, June 12-13, 2009
  • Coaching the Emergency Vehicle Operator II Ambulance, Defensive Driving Course, National Safety Council, January 7, 2009
  • Design and Operation of Work Zone Traffic Control seminar, presented by a National Highway Institute certified instructor, Champaign, IL, December 5, 2008
  • Vetronix / Bosch Crash Data Retrieval (CDR) Data Analyst Course, Westlake, OH, May 20-23, 2008 (32 hours)
  • Vetronix / Bosch Crash Data Retrieval (CDR) Technician Course, Westlake, OH, May 19, 2008 (8 hours)
  • Use of robotic, pulsed laser total station and data recorder for forensic mapping, TOPCON, Champaign, IL, August, 2007 (6 hours)
  • Crash Data Retrieval User’s Conference, Dallas, TX, February 13-14, 2006 (16 hours)
  • Nikon Advanced Digital Photography Course, Rosemont, IL, November 20, 2005 (8 hours)
  • Photogrammetry and the use of Photomodeler in Accident Investigation, Champaign, IL, July 8–9, 2005 (24 hours)
  • Operation and Maintenance of Heavy Duty Vehicle Air Brake Systems and Components Course, Bendix, Chicago, IL, June 1-3, 2004 (24 hours)
  • Vetronix Crash Data Retrieval (CDR) System Operator Course, Chicago, IL, January 28-30, 2004 (24 hours)
  • EDC Simulations Training Course, University of Miami, Miami, FL, November 10-14, 2003 (35 hours)
  • Motorcycle Instructor, Basic RiderCourse, RiderCoach Certification, Motorcycle Safety Foundation, University of Illinois, April 11-12, 2003, (16 hours)
  • EDC Reconstruction Training Course (EDCRASH), University of Miami, Miami, FL, November 11-15, 2002 (35 hours)
  • CDL Defensive Driving Course, Champaign, IL, December, 2001
  • Using a pulsed laser total station and data recorder to perform forensic mapping of an accident scene, TOPCON, Champaign, IL, September, 2001
  • Commercial Driving License
  • Braking Performance of Heavy Commercial Vehicles, Society of Automotive Engineers, Lexington, KY, September 25-26, 2000
  • European Conference for Accident Reconstruction 2000, Passenger Vehicle Crash Testing (Rollover, Pedestrian Impacts, and Tree Impacts), Neumunster, Germany, May, 2000
  • Motorcycle Instructor RiderCourse, Motorcycle Safety Foundation, University of Illinois, October, 1997, 80 hours
  • Inspection of Articulated Vehicles, TrukSafe America Risk Management, Inc., Phoenix, AZ, March 12, 1993
  • Graduate, SOS Big Rig Driving School, Phoenix, AZ, March, 1993
  • Heavy Vehicle Rollovers, SAE Seminar, Atlanta, GA, April 29-30, 1993
  • EDC Simulations, Accident Reconstruction Seminar, Calif. State University, Northridge, CA, 01/21-26, 1990 (40 hours)
  • Truck Enforcement Laws, Northwest Illinois Criminal Justice Commission, June, 1987
Professional Associations
  • American Board of Forensic Examiners, Diplomate
  • Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance
  • Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police
  • Illinois Association of Technical Accident Investigators
  • Midwest Association of Technical Accident Investigators
  • National Association of Professional Accident Reconstruction Specialist, Inc.
  • Society of Automotive Engineers
Presentations

"Obtaining Truck Wreck Data // After the Crash" podcast with Atty. David Craig, January 2021.

Owen, D.G., “An Evaluation of Vehicle Deceleration Rates on a Common Surface.” European Accident Reconstruction Conference, Wildhaus, Switzerland, June 12, 2009.

"Simulation Involved in Vehicle Accident Reconstruction," Dr. Roland L. Ruhl and Dwayne G. Owen, Proceedings of the 1989 Summer Computer Simulation Conference, Austin, Texas, Society for Computer Simulation, July 24–27, 1989.

Publications

Owen, Dwayne G. and Scott Duvall, "On-Board Electronics" published in Truck Accident Litigation, Third Edition, Chicago: American Bar Association, 2012.

Owen, Dwayne G. and Scott M. Duvall, "Truck Crash Investigation and Reconstruction" published in Truck Accident Litigation, Third Edition, Chicago: American Bar Association, 2012.

Owen, Dwayne G. and Senalik, C. Adam, "Data Collection: Site, Vehicle, and Electronic Evidence" published in Truck Accident Litigation, Second Edition, American Bar Association, 2006.

Editorial duties on Truck and Trucking Handbook: A Primer, Ruhl and Associates, 2000.

Ruhl, Roland A. and Owen, Dwayne G., Vehicle Accident Investigation: A Guide for Risk Managers and Claims Personnel, Ruhl and Associates, 1994. Second printing, Fall 1996.

Training Addendum
Motor Vehicle

04/11–12/03

Motorcycle Instructor, Basic RiderCourse, RiderCoach Certification, Motorcycle Safety Foundation, University of Illinois

16 hours

09/22–24/99

IATAI Accident Reconstruction Conference, Springfield, IL

25 hours

09/09–11/98

IATAI Accident Reconstruction Conference, Springfield, IL

16 hours

10/97

Motorcycle Instructor RiderCourse, Motorcycle Safety Foundation, University of Illinois

80 hours

09/21–24/97

ATA Conference on Highway Accident Litigation, Monterey, CA

20 hours

09/97

Motorcycle RiderCourse, Motorcycle Safety Foundation, University of Illinois

20 hours

05/11–13/92

MATAI Technical Accident Investigator Training Seminar

6 hours

10/10–12/91

IATAI’s Accident Reconstruction Conference, Illinois State University

24 hours

10/04–06/90

IATAI’s Accident Reconstruction Conference, Illinois State University

24 hours

02/15–16/89

Accident Reconstruction Specialist Exam, IL Law Enforcement Training Board

16 hours

02/11–12/89

Accident Reconstruction Review, N.E. IL Criminal Justice Commission

16 hours

10/05–07/89

IATAI Accident Reconstruction Conference, Illinois State University

24 hours

12/08–09/88

CDSI AutoCAD Operator Training Course, CAD Design Systems, Inc.

16 hours

10/06–08/88

IATAI Accident Reconstruction Conference, Illinois State University

24 hours

10/08–10/87

IATAI’s Accident Reconstruction Conference, Illinois State University

24 hours

06/15–19/87

Microcomputer Application Programs for Traffic Accident Reconstruction, Northwestern University

40 hours

06/02/87

Truck Enforcement Laws, N.W. IL Criminal Justice Commission

8 hours

04/23/86

Traffic Law, N.W. IL Criminal Justice Commission

8 hours

12/16/85

D.W.I. Law Update and Changes, N.W. IL Criminal Justice Commission

8 hours

10/15–26/84

Traffic Accident Reconstruction, Northwestern University

72 hours

06/19–23/83

Vehicular Homicide - D.W.I., Northwestern University

40 hours

01/24–28/83

Police Traffic Radar Instructor, Illinois State Police Academy

33 hours

04/28–30/81

Illinois Vehicle Code, Illinois Secretary of State

24 hours

01/21/81

Police Radar Seminar, N.W. IL Criminal Justice Commission

8 hours

04/07–25/80

Technical Accident Investigation, Northwestern University

120 hours

01/22–26/79

Breath - Alcohol Testing, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

40 hours

09/11–22/78

Accident Investigation, Northwestern University

80 hours

01/30/74

Defensive Driving, National Safety Council N/A 09/26/73 Police Speed Radar Operation, Decatur Electronics, Inc.

4 hours

04/06/73

Traffic Accident Investigation, Chicago Police Dept. Extension Unit 06/05-09/72 Traffic Crash Investigation, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

40 hours

Administration

02/22–26/88

Traffic Executive Development, Northwestern University 03/14–18/88

80 hours

12/09/86

Planning & Implementing Change, N.W. IL Criminal Justice Commission

8 hours

09/09/86

Management Issues in Law Enforcement, N.W. IL Criminal Justice Commission

8 hours

02/27/86

Police Records - Retention and Destruction, N.W. IL Criminal Justice Commission

8 hours

09/09/85

Criminal and Civil Lawsuits, N.W. IL Criminal Justice Commission

8 hours

09/07/84

Liability of Peace Officers, N.W. IL Criminal Justice Commission

8 hours

03/06/84

Police Supervision, N.W. IL Criminal Justice Commission

8 hours

10/07/83

Police Liability, N.W. IL Criminal Justice Commission

8 hours

11/01–02/82

Stress Management, N.W. IL Criminal Justice Commission

16 hours

12/07–18/81

Supervision of Police Traffic Personnel, Northwestern University

80 hours

Criminal

06/26/90

Use of Cap-Stun, N.W. IL Criminal Justice Commission

3 hours

03/19/89

Weapon Selection Criteria: Semi-Automatic vs Revolvers Course, N.W. IL Criminal Justice Commission 12/14/88 9mm Pistol, Federal Bureau of Investigation

4 hours

10/27/87

Domestic Violence Act, N.W. IL Criminal Justice Commission

8 hours

03/06/87

High Risk Felony Stops, Federal Bureau of Investigation

8 hours

12/05/85

High Risk Felony Arrests and Stops, Federal Bureau of Investigation

8 hours

06/06/85

Crime Scene Investigation, N.W. IL Criminal Justice Commission

8 hours

01/23/85

Use of Deadly Force, N.W. IL Criminal Justice Commission

8 hours

11/13/84

Laws of Evidence, N.W. IL Criminal Justice Commission

8 hours

02/08/84

Self Defense, N.W. IL Criminal Justice Commission

8 hours

10/12/83

Search and Seizure, N.W. IL Criminal Justice Commission

8 hours

09/28/83

Interviews and Interrogations, N.W. IL Criminal Justice Commission

8 hours

03/16–17/82

Interviews and Interrogations, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

16 hours

01/15–16/82

Street Survival Seminar, Hawkeye Institute, Waterloo, Iowa

16 hours

03/19/81

Officer Survival Seminar, N.W. IL Criminal Justice Commission

8 hours

12/15/80

Interviews and Interrogations, Chicago Police Dept. Extension Unit N/A 09/12/79 Stress Shoot, Federal Bureau of Investigation 11/15-16/78 Latent Fingerprints, Freeport Police Department 16 hours 05/24-26/78 Stress Firearms, Federal Bureau of Investigation

24 hours

11/15/77

Street Stops Seminar, N.W. IL Criminal Justice Commission

8 hours

01/25–26/77

Criminal Law, N.W. Illinois Criminal Justice Commission

16 hours

12/15/75

Emergency First Aid, Chicago Police Dept. Extension Unit N/A 09/10/75 Fundamentals of Criminal Investigation, Chicago Police Extension Unit N/A 04/26/74 Crime Scene Investigation, Illinois Bureau of Investigation

8 hours

04/15/74

Police Patrol Procedures, Chicago Police Dept. Extension Unit N/A 01/18–19/73 Arrest, Search and Seizure, Illinois Bureau of Investigation

16 hours

09/21–22/71

Basic Police Training, University of Illinois at DeKalb

240 hours

Safety

05/16/90

Disaster Preparedness for Aircraft Emergencies, N.W. IL Criminal Justice Commission

3 hours

03/13/90

Gas and Electric Emergencies, N.W. IL Criminal Justice Commission

3 hours

06/26–30/89

Hazardous Materials, Basic Awareness Instructor, IDOT

32 hours

05/16/88

CPR Instructor, American Red Cross

8 hours

05/02/88

Health Safety Education, American Red Cross

4 hours

03/13/88

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, American Red Cross

8 hours

07/23/87

Radiological Monitoring, Illinois Emergency Services and Disaster Agency

8 hours

10/18/86

Hazardous Materials Emergency Response, Illinois Dept. of Transportation

8 hours

06/21–29/86

Hazardous Materials: First Responder, IL Dept. of Transportation

32 hours

04/26/86

Cargo Truck Emergency Response, Safety Services, Jacksonville, Florida

8 hours

04/16/86

Helicopter Safety, IL Department of Transportation N/A 02/26/86 Hazardous Materials Awareness, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

8 hours

03/26/83

Handling Radiological Materials, Illinois Emergency Services and Disaster Agency 07/25/82 Disaster Control Seminar, Safety Systems, Inc.

8 hours

07/09/80

Basic Radiological Monitoring, Illinois Emergency Services and Disaster Agency N/A 09/18/73 Emergency Medical Technician - AMB., Illinois Dept. of Public Health

82 hours

What We Do

Accident Reconstruction

At Crash Response, we reconstruct crashes involving vehicles ranging from tractor-trailers to passenger vehicles, motorcycles and bicycles.

Airbag Control Modules

Crash Response will retrieve the available data from the airbag control module and interpret it for you.

Heavy Truck Crashes

Heavy truck crashes are different from that of a typical car crash in many ways— the crash dynamics, the braking systems, the regulations and more.

Truck EDR Downloads

Crash Response has the capability to download EDR (black box) data from most engine manufacturers and the expertise to interpret it correctly.

Motorcycle Crashes

Dwayne Owen has been riding motorcycles for over forty years and has investigated hundreds of motorcycle crashes during his career.

Pedestrian & Bicycle Accidents

The investigation includes determining the movements of the pedestrian/bicyclist and the motor vehicle at various times, visibility, and conspicuity.