SECTION 445:10-1-6. Road traffic fatalities

(a)   The investigating medical examiner shall obtain a whole blood specimen for the determination of ethanol from each operator or pedestrian road traffic fatality who dies at the time of or within four hours of the accident, utilizing a specimen kit for cardiac puncture supplied by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

(b)   In cases where there is reason to believe that the blood specimen could be contaminated by gastric content or is unobtainable after repeated attempts, a vitreous humor specimen should be submitted in lieu of the whole blood specimen. Any such specimen must be obtained prior to any embalming procedure and is the personal responsibility of the medical examiner. If it is reasonably suspected that drug abuse may have been a factor, a urine specimen, obtained by suprapubic puncture shall also be submitted.