Mike Boettcher

Steve begins with the indisputable facts of the accident. That Karen's car collided with the cement wall of that culvert. The moment of impact. So this is her car. It's taken. He displays a photo of the front end of Karen's tiny white Honda, jagged and crumpled. The hood is collapsed toward the steering wheel like a crushed soda can.

Steve begins with the indisputable facts of the accident. That Karen's car collided with the cement wall of that culvert. The moment of impact. So this is her car. It's taken. He displays a photo of the front end of Karen's tiny white Honda, jagged and crumpled. The hood is collapsed toward the steering wheel like a crushed soda can.

What happened in the moments after the car drove off the road, before it hit the wall? And the question we're all wondering, what caused Karen's car to leave the road in the first place?

What happened in the moments after the car drove off the road, before it hit the wall? And the question we're all wondering, what caused Karen's car to leave the road in the first place?

Steve and his team looked for signs that Karen might have been trying to regain control after she left the road. Was she steering or braking? He found signs of both.

Steve and his team looked for signs that Karen might have been trying to regain control after she left the road. Was she steering or braking? He found signs of both.

That would set up the next sequence Steve is looking at. After Karen's car hit the wall and came to a rest, its nose was pointed toward the roadway.

That would set up the next sequence Steve is looking at. After Karen's car hit the wall and came to a rest, its nose was pointed toward the roadway.

Then there's the question of speed. The speed limit on the highway was 55, and Steve believes it's a reasonable assumption that she was going the speed limit. The alternative would be that she was drowsy or sedated and driving slower than the speed limit. Pipkin calculated by the time Karen hit the wall, she was going 30. Steve says that matches their modeling too.

Then there's the question of speed. The speed limit on the highway was 55, and Steve believes it's a reasonable assumption that she was going the speed limit. The alternative would be that she was drowsy or sedated and driving slower than the speed limit. Pipkin calculated by the time Karen hit the wall, she was going 30. Steve says that matches their modeling too.

So the drop in speed after leaving the road to Steve, that indicates the driver took action.

So the drop in speed after leaving the road to Steve, that indicates the driver took action.

So Karen was awake at the moment of impact. That's the opinion of one expert using the latest in accident reconstruction technology. The idea that Karen was asleep, maybe even in a stupor, as law enforcement once said, that doesn't necessarily check out. And Steve's findings challenge at least one theory that placed the blame for the accident solely on Karen Silkwood.

So Karen was awake at the moment of impact. That's the opinion of one expert using the latest in accident reconstruction technology. The idea that Karen was asleep, maybe even in a stupor, as law enforcement once said, that doesn't necessarily check out. And Steve's findings challenge at least one theory that placed the blame for the accident solely on Karen Silkwood.

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol didn't have any comment on the new assessment, and they told us there are no plans to reopen the investigation.

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol didn't have any comment on the new assessment, and they told us there are no plans to reopen the investigation.

Steve has created simulations of three possible scenarios. In one, the car veers off the road to the right, then overcorrects to the left and loses control.

Steve has created simulations of three possible scenarios. In one, the car veers off the road to the right, then overcorrects to the left and loses control.

These are both single-car accidents. But what we've all been waiting for Steve to tell us about is the bumper.

These are both single-car accidents. But what we've all been waiting for Steve to tell us about is the bumper.