News
Mock DWI accident a sobering experience for
Mohonasen High School students
As prom season begins, students get graphic reminder: Don't drink
and drive
May 1, 2008
On
Thursday, May 1, emergency service agencies in the Town of Rotterdam
worked with Mohonasen High School to stage a mock DWI (driving while
intoxicated) accident scene on the high school grounds.
In the hypothetical crash scene, a simulated two-car accident was
caused by an “intoxicated” student driver. Three students were
"injured" and two "died" in the accident. Ten students in a high
school theater class played the roles of the intoxicated driver,
victims, news team and friends/relatives of the two deceased.
Juniors and seniors were brought outside to watch.
The somber, eye-opening exercise was coordinated by Sgt. Tom Culbert,
Mohonasen school resource officer and member of the Rotterdam Police
Department. It is timed to coincide with the start of “prom season”
and to remind students about the deadly consequences of drinking and
driving.
Additionally while the mock accident was played out, freshman and
sophomore students watched a multi-media alcohol/drug presentation
in the high school auditorium. MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving)
secured grant money to bring this presentation, valued at $600, to
Mohonasen for free.
“The whole idea is to send the message that alcohol and motor
vehicles are a deadly combination,” Culbert says. “We want to remind
students of the enormous consequences that come from drinking and
driving: criminal charges, serious injury and even death. From the
reactions I’ve seen over the years from the students, it is obvious
the exercise drives home what could happen as a result of drinking
and driving.”
The Rotterdam police and paramedics oversaw the event and were
assisted by Rotterdam Fire Dept. District #2, Rotterdam Ambulance,
AC Bodyworks Towing, the Demarco-Stone Funeral Home and the New York
State Police helicopter.
Please note that everyone involved in the mock accident, including the students, were acting. No one was actually hurt.
