Clock description: Hour hand between 8 and 9. Minute hand four minute-marks past the 6.

One morning when you leave your house, you witness an automobile accident in your street. You look at your watch when it happens. Later that day you are invited to the police station to give a formal witness statement about the accident. The police officer is trying to establish a detailed timeline of the event. He asks you: "What time did the accident happen?" You remember that it happened at the time shown on the clock as given above.

How would you answer in this situation? (Fill the blank)

"It happened ___."

Actual time shown: 8:34
Answer: "It happened 8.34 this morning."

Why did you choose to answer this way?
Because it is still the same day and the police police would also know that/what day it is (so you would not usually feel the need say the full date/it feels a bit redundant). Saying 'this morning', is less formal than '8.34am on [date]' but it just feels more natural to say and is still easily understandable.