Mock DUI crash & trial reminds seniors of the dangers of driving under the influence

The third annual “Senior Safety Day” focuses on the consequences of driving under the influence.

Tyrone firefighters removing the roof from the car to safely extract the victims.

Crushed metal and bloodied bodies.  Ambulances and fire trucks.  The coroner and a body bag. State police officers and handcuffs.  Lawyers and judges.  A teenager’s funeral.  Another teen going to prison.

This is what Tyrone seniors experienced early Thursday morning in a parking lot behind the high school and in the TAHS cafeteria turned courtroom.

Fortunately, this was a planned demonstration, but it could be the reality if students do not take the lesson of not driving under the influence seriously.

The “Senior Safety Day” program, now in its third year at TAHS, was organized by social studies and driver’s education teacher Mr. Cummins McNitt.

“Our Senior Safety Day really is a big deal,” said McNitt,  “an awful lot of professionals and organizations come to our assistance every year.  Without their insights and input this event wouldn’t be possible.”

We want to teach our seniors about the importance of making the right decisions, especially during prom and graduation season

— Mr. Cummins McNitt

“We want to teach our seniors about the importance of making the right decisions, especially during prom and graduation season,” said McNitt.

The program began at about 8:30 am with a mock DUI accident demonstration.

In the scenario presented to the seniors three Tyrone High School juniors: Michaela Diehl, Jojo Steinbugl, and Lena Walk were all passengers in a car driven by fellow junior Jake Makdad.  They had all been drinking.

Their car careened off the road and flipped several times.  A passing car saw the accident and called 911.

Tyrone’s Neptune and Blazing Arrow Hook and ladder fire companies, and AMED were soon on the scene to deal with three serious injuries and one fatality.

The responders first had to extract the “victims” from the car.  By using the ‘jaws of life’, the fireman safely cut the windows, doors, and roof off the car to remove the injured students.

Then Deputy Blair County Coroner Gil Barton removed the last victim from the car as the senior class watched the scene.

Junior Lena Walk was declared dead by the coroner and placed in a body bag.

Despite the fact that the accident wasn’t real, the majority of the seniors took the scenario very seriously and learned a valuable life lesson.

”If someone seems intoxicated don’t get in the car with them. You should even take their keys so they aren’t driving around,” said mock accident victim and junior Joe Steinbugl.

”We try to show them what a real life vehicle accident would be like,” said Blazing Arrow Fire Chief Dave Wiser. ”We want to show them what happens when you’re not making the right decision on the road.”

“Nobody wants to see their daughter taken out of a body bag,” said Wiser, “This is the end for this girl, her family will never see her again.”

Following the mock accident scene, the students headed to the high school cafeteria where students witnessed a field sobriety test performed by the Pennsylvania State Police.

We try to show them what a real life vehicle accident would be like

— Chief Dave Wiser

State Trooper Frank Gaus offered students the opportunity to test goggles that simulate the impairment of a drunk person.   Seniors Ben Shetler, John Lewis and Tristan Case attempted to pass the sobriety test while wearing the goggles.  Two out of three of the students failed the test.

Following the sobriety test,  District Magistrate Judge Fred Miller and Trooper Gaus, with the help of members of Tyrone’s Mock Trial team, performed a mock DUI trial to show students what happens when someone is charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Mock Trial Team members Adam Zook, Jake Makdad, Molly Fessler-LaPorte and Carrie Vance played various rolls in the trial.

The final phase of the program involved the trial and sentencing of the driver of the vehicle.

In the end Makdad, the driver of the car, was sentenced to ten-to-twenty years in state prison and fined $19,500.

At sentencing, Makdad faced tears by Molly Stroup, the mother of deceased “victim” Lena Walk, and the stern voices of the state police officer and Judge Miller.

”We want these seniors to understand that driving is a privilege, and they need to take it seriously because a vehicle can be considered a weapon and cause injury or death to themselves or others,” said State Trooper Gaus.

I would like to thank the following people and organizations for making this event possible:

Students:

Michaela Diehl, Maddie Mengle, Joe Steinbugl, Lena Walk, Roxy Wilburn, TAHS Mock Trial Team members Adam Zook, Jake Makdad, and Carrie Vance.

 

Staff:

Jim Coleman, Tim Walk, Fred B. Miller, Luke Rhoades, Molly Stroup

 

Organizations/Professionals:

AMED: Paramedic Ray Nedimyer and EMT Jess McFarland

Blair County Coroner’s Office: Gill Barton

Blair County District Attorney’s Office: Julia Wilt

Blair County Victim-Witness Program: Sue Grip

Blazing Arrow Hook & Ladder Company: Chief Dave Wiser, Event Speaker and Deputy Chief Chip Dillon

Magisterial District Judge Fred Miller

Neptune Fire Company

PennDot: Anthony Scalia

Pennsylvania Bar Association: Susan Etter

Pennsylvania State Police: Trooper Frank Gaus, Trooper David McGarvey, Corporal David Roland

Russell’s Towing (& Penny)

Tyrone Police Department: John Romeo

Tyrone Area School District: Administration & TASD school board

Wike’s Insurance: Kelly Wike

— Mr. Cummins McNitt, event organizer