Is it just me or does this part bother anyone else?

The police, Rueter later found out, don't always investigate collisions unless there are extenuating circumstances, like traumatic injuries (Rueter was mis-classified as non-trauma at the scene, he says), or an intoxicated driver. Instead, to save resources, the cops facilitate the exchange of info, and leave the investigation to the insurance companies.

Does the profesional writer know what "extenuating" means?