Prom and graduation are joyful times for seniors, but a long-running program presented by Tyrone driver’s education teacher Cummins McNitt reminded them that it takes just one poor decision for joy to turn into tragedy.
To educate seniors about the possible consequences of driving while impaired, McNitt has held Senior Safety Day every year for the past 11 years, except in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID.
“I put this together every year to reach the senior class as they are about to close one chapter of their life and begin the next,” McNitt said. “The seniors are about to participate in both prom and graduation celebrations. These events often involve important decision-making.”
This is a transition year for Senior Safety Day. McNitt will retire at the end of the school year and pass responsibility for the program on to Jordan Bondi, who was paying close attention to every detail of this year’s program.
“Mr. McNitt will truly be missed, and it will be impossible to fill his shoes,” Bondi said, “He has done so much for the driver’s ed program, and I plan to continue with the great framework that he has put into place. I am excited to take on the challenge.”
The main point McNitt wants students to take away is that when it comes to driving while impaired, the consequences of making a poor decision can be extreme.
According to the National Highway Safety Administration, 37 people in the United States die in drunk-driving-related crashes every day. That’s one person every 39 minutes.
The program began with the senior class reporting to the back of the school building at 8:30 am, where they witnessed a mock drinking and driving accident, followed by an arrest simulation, and mock trial in the high school cafeteria.
Students watched the firemen and paramedics arrive on the scene where several students were trapped in a car.
There were four “victims” that were trapped inside the car, played by current TAHS juniors.
Landon Hamer played the driver, who was charged with vehicular homicaide. Hamer played a high school junior, who was the boyfriend of another junior played by Kasey Duaghenbaugh and best friend to another victim played by junior Sam Crilly. The fourth victim, who died in the crash, was played by Lenelle Eades.
The victims all had very realistic makeup done by students Emily Stine, Sophia Cowher, and Sophia Sciarrillo.
Tyrone Hookies Captain Dave Wiser explained the procedures involved with extracting victims.
The firemen then used spreaders and cutters to remove the doors and roof from the car so that the “victims” could be extracted and receive medical attention.
The students watched attentively as the first responders went to work at the scene.
“It was definitely worth the time,” senior Richard Rawlings said. “I thought it was a good learning experience to show students the effects of drinking and driving.”
Blair County First Deputy Coroner Ron Forsht spoke to the students about how fatalities are dealt with following traffic accidents.
Pennsylvania State Police Troopers Jake Rhymestine and Chris Fox were there to discuss how accident scenes are investigated. They also spoke about the consequences of getting a DUI or being involved in a DUI-related accident.
“Driving under the influence can affect the rest of your life,” Fox said, “Many times teenage drivers don’t think while driving or what the consequence could be before getting in a vehicle”
Aided by Tyrone Police Chief Jessica Walk, the state troopers demonstrated what happens at a sobriety checkpoint and ran several students through the standard field sobriety tests.
Students then moved to the high school cafeteria for a mock trial, where the legal consequences of being involved in a DUI were dramatized for the students.
The “prosecution” was led by Blair County Assistant District Attorney Derek Elensky and the trial was presided over by Blair County Judge Fred Miller.
Other students who had roles in the mock trial were Thomas Sutt, who played the Assistant District Attorney, and Dylan McKinney, the defense attorney.
Guidance counselor Jess Koeck played the role of the mother of the deceased, and Mr. McNitt was the court bailiff.
“I thought the most impactful part for me was the mock trial. It really drove home the importance of the day,” Bondi said.
The presentation concluded with a very impactful presentation by Jeffrey Webster.
Webster’s daughter Julie was killed by a drunk driver in 2010. Her family created Justice-4-Julie in her honor. Webster visits schools in the area to put a personal face on the tragedy that can result from driving while impaired.
“Life is all about decisions. Some are more important than others. Drive sober or get a designated driver, Uber or Lyft. Call a friend or family member. They love you enough to pick you up,” Webster said.
Bondi also stressed the importance of good decisions.
“My best advice for students is that their decisions during the prom and graduation season are that decisions can stick with them for the entirety of their lives. Always make the right decision. I promise you will not regret it,” Bondi said.
After the event, McNitt thanked the volunteers who helped make the program possible, including Russell’s Towing, Tyrone Hookies, Neptune, and Warriors Mark Fire Departments, AMED, Tyrone Police Department, the Pennsylvania State Police, PennDOT, the Blair County Coroner’s Office, Blair County Judge Fred Miller, the PA State Bar Association, and John Kashatus of the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
