On Friday, 11th and 12th Grade students at North Schuylkill High School were shown the consequences of driving under the influence.
The North Schuylkill SADD program organized a Mock Crash Friday in the lower parking lot of the Junior/Senior High School.
Through the mock crash, students were shown what can happen if someone gets behind the wheel while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or event distracted by texting.
Tyler Wolfgang portrayed the driver of the vehicle, who was then give a sobriety test by Butler Township Police and later handcuffed and arrested.
Ryan Weitz portrayed the back seat victim who was injured in the crash and Dana Gregas portrayed the fatal victim.
Members from Goodwill Fire Co., Frackville, Lavelle Fire, Washington Rescue, Ashland, and American Hose Co., Ashland, participated in the extraction of the victims. The fire departments also used this as a training exercise.
Schuylkill County Deputy Coroners Deb Detweiler and Dave Truskowsky also participated.
Students were then taken back inside the school’s auditorium where Truskowsky spoke to the students about what they just witnessed.
“Every year we try to get the message out, with prom and graduation coming up to show the students the consequences of making a bad decision”, said Mike Evans, student adviser.
“We come out to show you that life can change in a second”, said Truskowsky.
Truskowsky spoke about driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs and also about driving defensively. He spoke to the young drivers about paying attention and paying attention to the other drivers on the road. He also spoke to the students about the dangers of drugs in general and becoming addicted.
The final part of the program “Safe Prom Pledge” which was presented by Fellerman & Ciarimboli. Ed Ciarimboli explained the contract that prom attendees sign to promise to abstain from drugs and alcohol on prom night. By signing this pledge, teens realize the consequences of their actions. In 2018, 47 schools have participated in the program, a number we hope to break in 2019.
Since 2010, more than 30,000 students throughout Pennsylvania have signed Fellerman & Ciarimboli’s Safe Prom Pledge.