HARSH LESSON
Mock DUI crash brings home consequences to students
SOUTH COVENTRY >> “One decision can impact the rest of your life.”
That was the lesson hundreds of students at Owen J. Roberts High School learned Thursday morning after watching a few of their classmates reenact a fatal car accident to stress the consequences of drunk or distracted driving.
“It’s basically to show the students what happens at an accident scene,” said Dwayne Redd, State Farm Insurance public affairs specialist. “But it also stresses to them the importance of no texting while driving, eliminating all distractions meaning conversations, fun, activities, playing with the radio or doing anything in the car that’s going to take away your ability to drive a vehicle.”
The reenactment began with an unveiling of two crashed cars. On the hood of one vehicle was a lifeless student actor made to look as if she had been thrown through the windshield. Inside each vehicle was another unresponsive teen, along with three others who were able to get out of the car and call police.
“I think a lot of the students involved have never been involved in a car crash before so their concern is to make this as realistic as possible so that the audience who is watching them comes away with the
feeling of what it’s actually like to be involved,” said Dawn Galambos, a teacher at Owen J. Roberts High School who was working with the student actors.
And the students had no problem making the scene realistic.
The school enlisted the help of Pennsylvania State Police, Goodwill EMS, West Vincent Police, Ridge Fire Company and Fire Police and Houck & Gofus Funeral Home to set the scene. Additionally, the school had the help of State Farm Insurance, Main Line Health, Bryn Mawr Rehab’s Cruisin’ Smart Program, Media Theatre volunteers and a sound crew.
As state troopers arrived on the scene of the mock crash to speak with the teens, Ridge Fire Company and Goodwill EMS followed shortly after. Sophomores, juniors and seniors at the school watched as two of their classmates were pried from the vehicles, one was given a field sobriety test and two more were taken away in body bags. As the scene continued to unfold, students saw actors from Media Theatre play distraught parents who are left wondering how and why the accident happened.
“I don’t have any kids that are driving yet. I have two little boys. But the
thought of this happening is very impactful,” said Drew Leck, a State Farm agent in Pottstown. “This event is something we can teach these guys and something I can teach my kids and my policy-holders’ kids. I think this kind of encompasses everything
and really sheds light on what could happen. It’s a great thing to kind of open people’s eyes.”
Some students also later listened to the story of Bobby Bisignaro, 30, who was in a drinking and driving accident about 11 years ago. Bisignaro spoke to the
students about the real impacts of getting into a car when the driver has been drinking. He discussed the years-long process it took to be able to regain his ability to speak, eat and walk.
“I’m trying to teach them ways to not get into a car with a drunk driver,”
said Bisignaro “I’ve been doing the talk for about four or five years.”
School officials said one of the wrecked cars will remain on school property, along with a banner, as a reminder of the dangers of distracted or drunk driving.