Hypothetical car crash scenario...

RIP Ides. You'll be missed.

 

In the scenario Rusty proposed, you do not be a journalist first. Your policy should be no comment to the press, not even your own paper. Until the police investigation is done and you are cleared of all blame and fault in the accident and the fatalities keep your mouth shut. Anything you get quoted as saying in the paper can come back and bite you in the ass if there's any kind of lawsuit resulting from the wrongful death or from the injured suing for damages/medical expenses. Even if you're the third car in the accident and you feel there's no way you could be found at fault, don't comment because any comments in print have the potential to get you or the paper in trouble.