Dany Heatley Car Crash

Knott Laboratory was retained by the District Attorney of Fulton County, Georgia to investigate the highly publicized car accident involving Dany Heatley and Dan Snyder of the Atlanta Thrashers hockey team.

Dany Heatley was speeding excessively in a residential Georgia neighborhood on the evening of Sept. 29, 2003 when he lost control of his convertible Ferrari and slammed into a brick column supporting a wrought iron fence. The vehicle split in half at impact and ejected passenger Dan Snyder, who fell into a coma and later died.

Knott Laboratory’s forensic engineering team calculated the vehicle speed and path based on impact damage and physical evidence at the scene. Nighttime animations were produced showing the severity of the accident.

Driver Dany Heatley, who was named MVP of the 2003 NHL All-Star game, was charged and pleaded guilty to second-degree vehicular homicide, failure to maintain his lane, and speeding. He was sentenced to three years probation in February 2005.

ClientFulton County, GeorgiaServicesForensic EngineeringYear2003