Crash Character Analysis

Officer Tommy Hansen, a Los Angeles police officer who, after observing his partner Officer John Ryan pull over Cameron Thayer and Christine Thayer and sexually molests Christine, requests a change of partner. He ultimately reveals his own insecurities with other races through his treatment of Peter Waters. We later see Tommy walking away from his burning car wearing a pair of latex gloves, thus concealing his involvement in the shooting.

Officer John Ryan, a prejudiced white police officer, molests Cameron's wife, Christine, under the pretense of searching for a weapon.

Ryan is trying to get help for his father, who has been misdiagnosed with a bladder infection. His anger manifests in prejudice, which stems from the destructive impact that local affirmative action policies had on his father's business. He later saves Christine from a burning car when he had the perfect opportunity to ensure that he left the burning car alive, which leaves Christine stunned.

Cameron Thayer, a black television director.

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He witnesses Officer Ryan molesting his wife and later realizes that the producers of his television show propagate racist stereotypes about black people. At the scene of Hansen's burning car (to eliminate evidence of murder), he is able to find contentment and reconnects with his wife.

Christine Thayer, Cameron's wife. She is molested by Ryan and becomes furious with her husband because he didn't defend her. The two insult each other over their upbringings–as both Cameron and Christine have grown up in more privileged environments than many other African Americans.

The next day she is trapped in an overturned car due to a car accident and, by a twist of fate, Officer Ryan is the man who willingly endangers himself to save her life.