State v. Ford

Reiber, C.J.,

¶22. dissenting. This case is about the proper scope of the emergency aid exception — an exception that recognizes those situations in which acting quickly to save lives takes priority over privacy interests. The majority holds today that when a police officer is informed of a serious car accident and sent to the accident victim’s last known address, the officer should sometimes risk leaving the victim dying in his home rather than investigating the situation further. The majority requires accident victims to leave visible signs, such as blood tracks or a wrecked vehicle, before…