I have a license plate number form a flatbed trailer. A large piece of
metal fell off this truck, struck my car, and totaled it. It drove
away and I have been unable to find the company's name can you help?
The police in VA were unwilling to help because the other vehicle
wasn't "involved."
We're pretty sure it was an Ohio plate # E859463. It was the plate on
the trailer, not the truck. This happened 4/1/04 in Richmond, VA. bout
2:45 p.m. All I want is to trace it to a company.

You should be able to send a request in writing to the Ohio Bureau of
Motor Vehicles along with their fee and obtain registration
information for the plate.  See http://bmv.ohio.gov/bmv.html.  You
might even be able to request it online and pay with a credit card.

I have 20+ years professional law enforcement experience and I am
quite familiar with the law and the legal system. I'm here to tell you
that if I were you I would INSIST that it be investigated anyway and
save myself the trouble of being forced to do it alone. In Virginia it
is a violation of the law to fail to secure a load. In other words, if
ANYTHING falls from a moviing vehicle due to the driver's failure to
properly tie it down or otherwise secure it, whether it causes damage
to someone else's vehicle or not, it is a violation of state statutes.
Having said that, the other vehicle was clearly "involved", according
to your description of the events, and was in fact at fault.

Find out who, higher up in the chain of command you should talk to and
stand your ground.
 
Regards;
tutuzdad-ga