On Friday, April 29^th Tyrone seniors gathered in the parking lot behind the Tyrone Area High School for an eye opening experience.

The fifth annual event, known as “Senior Safety Day,” is organized by social studies and driver’s ed teacher Cummins McNitt.

“As seniors are about to enter the world on their own, we would like to show them what can happen after an irresponsible night out,” said McNitt.

The event included an automobile crash simulation, mock DUI trial and discussion.

‘’With prom and graduation coming up, seniors will probably go to more parties now than any other time in their lives. We do this as a reminder for them to make good choices,’’ said McNitt.

According to Edgar Snyder’s website, 54% of teens drink 4+ drinks on prom night, and one third of those students will drive home, putting themselves, and passengers at risk. In a 2013 survey by Rehabs.com, 31% of teens admitted to drug consumption on the night of prom and leaving the party with them or a friend behind the wheel.

Area volunteer fireman, first responders, law enforcement officials and the Tyrone Area School District teamed up to help prevent Tyrone students from adding to these percentages.

The mock crash scene was set up behind the school. A car that had previously been in an accident sat in the center with juniors AJ Grassi, Riean Minnich, Jenna Chronister, and Michael Lewis inside as “victims” of a fatal crash after a night out.

Tyrone police and firefighters arrived to the scene just as students gathered. After realizing that a passenger was dead, the Blair County Coroner arrived on the scene. From there, firefighters and AMED removed students from the car. Before doing so, they used the “jaws of life” to remove safety hazards such as side doors and the roof. Once this was done, three students were removed and taken away in an ambulance with severe injuries.

‘’It was eye opening to see kids I know being propped in the accident’’, added senior Shelby Gantt, ‘’It made things more realistic.’’

During this time, a firefighter described the steps taken and the state of the students that were involved with the accident.

Once the mock crash was finished, students went inside to attend a simulated DUI trial in the cafeteria. Each individual person was set up for trial, but the driver faced the most severe consequences such as DUI charges and vehicular homicide. Many would agree, that having these charges on your record would be horrible enough, but to be in an accident where a friend is severely injured or passes away would be the worst punishment of all.

Soon to be graduate Zane Hertzler was definitely impacted by the trial. ‘’It was powerful to see the trial, that is something I would never want to go through,’’ said Hertzler,

Many students left the seminar Friday with a change of attitude. ”I will never get behind the wheel with someone who has been drinking,” commented Gantt.

McNitt would like to  thank all the officials that took the time to impact his students, including Russell’s Towing, Blazing Arrow Hook and Ladder Company, AMED, Blair County Coroner’s Office, Tyrone Police Department, Pennsylvania State Police, PennDOT, Judge Fred Miller, Molly Stroup & Luke Rhoades, and the TAHS cafeteria and maintenance staff.