Mock accident shows teens dangers of drinking, driving

Standard Democrat

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Despite the rain, a mock car accident was held at Scott County Central High School Friday in an effort to prevent students from drinking and driving.

The accident was so believable that a woman living near the school ran up to the scene, wondering if anyone was injured. She then stuck around to watch the event.

"With prom being this weekend, we wanted to refresh the students' memories about the importance of not drinking and driving," said Scott County Central High School principal Jeff Koonce.

In 2002, 17,970 people were killed in crashes involving alcohol, representing 42 percent of the people killed in all traffic crashes, according to preliminary National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data.

Students nervous

On Friday, nine high school students clad in makeup and torn clothes acted as those involved in the "accident" and bystanders. They all said they were nervous before and during the demonstration.

During the two-vehicle mock accident Friday, one person died, one was air evacuated by helicopter, three injured people were transported by ambulance and one was arrested for drinking and driving. Some of the participants were ejected from the vehicle.

While the target audience is all students, sometimes it's the actors who benefit most from the mock accident.

Last year at Kelly High School, a girl in the mock accident was shaking a lot, said Tawana Presley of New Hamburg-Benton-Commerce Fire and Protection District.

"We thought she was just acting really good, but she was really scared and freaking out," Presley said.

Over half of all traffic deaths involving teens during prom/graduation weekends (mid-April through mid-June) from 6 p.m. Friday to 5:59 p.m. Sunday in 2000 were alcohol-related fatalities, according to Mothers Against Drunk Driving.