GATHERING THE FACTS

Gathering the facts for a routine Navy accident story is simple. Often, the best source of information is the personnel office. The "casualty report" made by the personnel office and transmitted by priority message will provide you with most of the necessary information.

In gathering the facts for an accident story, make sure you get the following information:

Casualty's full name, including rank or rate, file or service number and branch of service.

Status: Active duty or reserves.

Type of death: Killed in action, died of wounds received inaction or death from whatever cause; the extent of injury: Injuries sustained and medical listing of patient, when available. Remember to attribute the stated cause of death to competent authority when the cause is not perfectly obvious.

Date, hour, place, circumstances and cause, when determined.

Location and disposition of body.

Full name, addresses and relationship of next of kin.

Information stating whether next of kin has been officially notified.

These facts usually provide enough information for a start. Note that the following report briefly answers all the questions necessary for an accident story. A few well-placed telephone calls will provide you with any other details you may need. The results may look something like those that follow:

A Little Creek sailor was killed today when his automobile went out of control, struck a railroad track and overturned on Sewell's Point Road near Ward's Corner.

The sailor was identified as Gunner's Mate First Class John J. Doe, 37, husband of Mrs. Dolores E. Doe of 1717 Atlantic Ave., Atlantic City, N.J.

A veteran of 16 years' naval service, Doe was attached to the Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) Department, Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base. His death marks the first traffic fatality involving Little Creek naval personnel since February.

A routine accident story of this type usually runs about three or four paragraphs. It is brief and compact, yet contains enough information to satisfy the requirements of most newspapers.

All accident stories, however, are not this simple. When two or more casualties are involved, you will have to dig for more details and write a story with a casualty list. Listed next are some of the facts you should consider:

Accurate number and complete identities of the dead and injured.

Cause of the accident. Authoritative sources should be consulted and quoted whenever necessary. If the cause of the accident is not readily apparent, the story should state, "The cause of the accident is unknown and is under investigation." Although the exact cause of an accident may be unknown, qualifiers sometimes may be used to present a probable cause in the story. For example, "An eyewitness to the crash said that the plane struck a treetop during takeoff." The cause of an accident may be reported after a complete investigation has been made. Meanwhile, do not speculate in your release concerning its cause, especially when negligence or human error is suspected.

Date board of inquiry will be convened and its members (if such a board is formed). Boards of inquiry usually are not formed unless the accident results in a major loss of Navy property, such as a shipboard fire. However, all aircraft accidents, even minor ones, are investigated thoroughly.

Lives still imperiled. If people are still trapped, this rates coverage with the casualties and will require follow-up coverage as well.

Property loss or damage. It is not necessary that you state the price of an airplane each time one crashes, but when a structure is damaged by the crash, media will want to know its value. You might want to keep a list on your desk of Navy aircraft and the approximate cost of each model.

Disposition of the dead. State where the bodies have been taken.

Care of the injured. Like the previous category, the care of the injured is especially applicable in off-station accidents. The story should state where the injured are being treated.

Statements from survivors, especially where heroic acts are involved. Such statements are unnecessary in routine accidents. However, in a major catastrophe, they could be extremely valuable in piecing together a true picture of exactly what happened.

Rescue work still underway. This is related to victims still imperiled.

Human interest items. Noteworthy escapes, rescues or unusual circumstances involved should be acknowledged.