The Villages - January 2018 - 43

Robert McElroy
Vehicle crash analysis
When metal crunches metal, he's the one they call.
He sees the crumpled shells of impacted automobiles
and the contorted bits of cars, heavy trucks and all kinds of
industrial vehicles. An internationally recognized technical
expert and crash analyst, Robert McElroy has been reconstructing accidents since 1986.
"There's a great deal of physics involved," McElroy explained. "My job is to determine what happened and if a
mechanical failure played a role."
Reconstructing a scene is a complicated, intricate process with a bevy of factors to weigh. Kinetic energy, skid
analysis, vehicle data and research, and time-distance calculations are just a few of the aspects involved. Aside from
experience and education, McElroy has a set of tools to help
him perform the job. Much like a visiting physician, he totes
his black bag to accident scenes and meticulously begins diagnosing. He's been called the coroner of cars. He holds a
doctorate in industrial safety engineering and industrial education and has worked in many facets of the auto industry.
A problem-solver by nature, McElroy enjoys fact-finding,
evaluation and invention.
"I'm a serial entrepreneur who has started businesses in a number of different fields," he said. "I divide
my time between forensic case work and new business
development."
His interests have led to ventures in event data
recorder technology, also known as "black box,"
with a number of companies in North America
and Europe. He has helped develop standards
for the devices. When installed in
vehicles, they help record information related to accidents
and are helpful in determining
a driver's speed, acceleration,
use of brakes and other significant data prior to a crash.
"As for business development, I'm focused on the
autonomous vehicle technology," he said.
An autonomous
car is self-navigating,
with the ability to sense
its environment.

"I believe AV is going to change mobility dynamics in
all industrialized nations, and I'm having fun tackling the
issues associated with AV and development of associated
infrastructure," he said.
When asked how he got involved with accident analysis,
McElroy said he spent the earlier part of his career working
for General Motors as a technical instructor. He developed
a successful solar- and steam-powered car, and then segued
into crash analysis. He has since worked with hosts of
insurance companies and has participated in hundreds of
trials and a whopping 1,000 depositions.
"I just got a call from an insurance company this
afternoon," he said.
And while his career still calls him to the road, he
manages to attend local events and activities with his
wife, Agnes. The Villages is just the place for her, a "dynamic, attractive and outgoing lady," he said.
McElroy is a member of several Villages clubs and
acts as an adviser to the Wildwood Middle High
School Criminal Justice Program. - By Rica Lewis

MAGAZINE

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Villages - January 2018