Victim of drunken driver is taken away on a stretcher during the mock scenario this week at Pentucket Regional High School. (Courtesy photograph.)
The crash scene.
Junior and senior classes at Pentucket Regional High School learned this week what happens when a drunken driver causes a death during a serious automobile crash.
The West Newbury, Groveland and Merrimac police and fire departments conducted the simulated fatal crash to demonstrate the dangers of driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Students gathered outside the school to observe the mock crash between two vehicles. Police and fire arrived on scene to find one of the victims outside of the vehicle, who was thereafter pronounced dead. Firefighters then worked to remove passengers, played by students of the school’s Safety and Public Service and Arts Academies. Police officers demonstrated a field sobriety test on the driver and placed him under arrest after determining he was intoxicated. Massachusetts State Police Trooper Matthew Routhier also arrived on scene to investigate the crash. Atlantic Ambulance transported the “injured” students, while a hearse from Paul C. Rogers and Sons Funeral Home collected the victim.
Following the demonstration, students gathered in the school auditorium for a debriefing where they were given the opportunity to ask fire and police officials questions.