The fictitious scene depicted a prom-night tragedy.
A pair of cars sat dented and ruined in the Edinburgh High School parking lot, while nearby, a mother mourned the loss of her child.
Thankfully, the scene was nothing but a simulation; no one had been hurt. But with prom season approaching, Edinburgh officials felt it was important to show the dangers of drunk driving to students.
A crash simulation, held on the morning of April 20, was a joint venture between Edinburgh’s police and fire departments and the Johnson County Coroners Office, as well as Edinburgh Community Schools. Four students volunteered to be victims in the crash; one of of the students played the role an impaired driver, and another student’s role was to be a passenger pronounced deceased at the scene.
Edinburgh High School staff member Sherri Sweet was on scene acting as the distraught deceased juvenile’s mother, said Doyne Little, Edinburgh police chief.
About one-third of alcohol-related traffic fatalities occur during prom season, according to Empower Johnson County, a county coalition that seeks to keep teenagers away from drugs, alcohol and tobacco. Now was the time to have these kinds of difficult conversations, Little said.
“It was somber to see this re-enactment crash and the reactions on some of the students’ faces. We hope that by doing this event, that it will prevent one student from getting behind the wheel impaired and save a life,” he said in a press release.
A staple at schools such as Whiteland Community High School and Franklin Community High School, the prom crash simulation was the first at Edinburgh schools since 2003.
Thirty One Auto Group donated the vehicles for the simulation, which were worked up to appear tangled together in an accident, Little said.
“We pushed the cars together so it dented in and cordoned (the parking lot) off for the night, and the next day we met with four students who volunteered to be our actors,” Little said. “They were 18-year-old seniors and we told them the scenario, that they were going to prom and one driver was impaired and ended up killing his passenger, and the other two were injured.”
Emergency crews extricated the teens by cutting the doors off one of the cars during the simulation. The Johnson County Coroner’s Office was also on hand to do a mock pronouncing of a person’s death, Little said.
The simulation was part of a wider effort throughout the county to reduce impaired driving. While prom season may feature more teenagers driving under the influence, Empower Johnson County is trying to ensure that number stays as close to zero as possible.
To do this, the coalition has partnered with local school districts to sponsor substance-free events after prom, such as at Rascal’s Fun Zone and Kings Island, said Miranda Broomfield, assistant community coordinator.
At both events, as well as at prom, students take breathalyzer tests upon entering and exiting, she said.
“We support proms and post-proms within our community. We want to support substance-free events where youth can have somewhere to go and have fun and make memories with friends in a safe, substance-free environment,” Broomfield said. “Students across the county have worked to put together posters to get the message into high schools. The slogan this year is ‘A prom night to remember, not to regret’ and ‘Stay sober on prom night, be alcohol free.’”
Parents play a massive role in ensuring their children stay safe this prom season. They must also be involved to make sure their children have safe plans for prom and be able to pick them up if they are in a dangerous situation, she said.
Empower Johnson County is encouraging adults to check in with their youth and have a plan in place in case they need to call and be picked up, Broomfield said. A recently sent newsletter encouraged parents to talk to their teens ahead of time, not as they’re heading out the door to prom.
“Who will be driving and making sure they’re provided a place to stay without alcohol. If they’re in a difficult situation, how to reach out to them and get them home safely,” Broomfield said. “We try to make sure parents are aware the danger is there. There’s end-of-year excitement, and we want them to have that — but in a safe environment.”
