HxGN Live 2022 - Stanley C. Stoll: KNOTT Laboratory reconstructs a national spotlight race accident

Stanley C. Stoll |M.Eng. | P.E. |D.F.E. National Academy of Forensic Engineers | Combat Engineer and Explosives Expert US. Army | Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator (CFEI) | Certified Vehicle Fire Investigator (CVFI) | CEO - Principal Engineer Knott Laboratory

Knott Laboratory is a multidisciplinary team of engineers, accident reconstructionists, and animators who provide Forensic Engineering and Visualization Services.

Knott Laboratory’s team of experts have worked on over 20,000 cases nationwide. For example, On August 9th, 2014, NASCAR legend Tony Stewart was racing in a Sprint Car Series event in Canandaigua, NY. During the highly competitive race, Stewart attempted to overtake a fellow racer, Kevin Ward Jr., whose car ended up in the wall. After exiting his vehicle, he was struck by Stewart’s car under a yellow caution flag, resulting in the death of Mr Ward. The case was in the national spotlight, and Knott Laboratory was contracted to reconstruct the event. Their engineers and animators used laser scan data and video footage to reconstruct the event with scientific accuracy. The laser scan data allowed them to apply videogrammetry and matchmoving techniques to provide otherwise unavailable views and analysis of the collision. Their findings proved pivotal for the civil case and are the subject of The Hit, an investigative documentary on the incident.

Knott Laboratory’s presentation will showcase examples of the sprint car racing incident and two shooting reconstructions. In all presented cases, you will see how laser scan data and analysis technology led to previously undiscoverable conclusions.