(a) Every law enforcement officer who:

(1) Investigates a vehicle accident of which a report must be made as required in this article; or

(2) otherwise prepares a written report as a result of an investigation either at the time of and at the scene of the accident or thereafter by interviewing the participants or witnesses, when such accident under paragraphs (1) or (2) results in injury or death to any person or total damage to all property to an apparent extent of $1,000 or more, shall forward a written report of such accident to the department of transportation within 10 days after investigation of the accident.

(b) Such written reports required to be forwarded by law enforcement officers and the information contained therein shall not be privileged or held confidential.

(c) The provisions of this section shall be deemed to be satisfied by the electronic submission of reports prepared by computer and containing the information required to be included in written reports. The format of such electronic reports and the frequency of submission must be acceptable to the secretary of transportation.