Cops Stage Fatal Crash
WATER VALLEY – The Water Valley Police Department staged a crash caused by a drunk driver to educate juniors and seniors at the high school about the risks of driving intoxicated. The simulation was held Thursday morning in front of the high school just two days before the junior-senior prom.
The exercise started in the high school cafeteria as students watched a program highlighting the dangers of drinking and driving. Meanwhile on Market Street in front of the school George Crocker with George’s Garage and Lee Crocker with Lee’s Towing brought two junkers and staged a head-on collision, rolling one of the cars off the wrecker into the other to help stage the carnage.
As the program in the cafeteria ended, the county dispatcher toned out fire, police and EMS to respond to the two-car crash with multiple injuries and fatalities. The students could hear the radio traffic on officers’ radios and went outside to watch the scene unfold. Three ambulances responded, along with officers from the city’s fire and police department, and EMA directors Stewart Spence and Jarred Logan.
Sophomore students posed as injured passengers and deceased passengers inside the vehicles, a guise that included large amounts of fake blood to make the scene realistic. Students watched as firefighters extricated injured passengers and covered the bodies of two others while Yalobusha County Coroner Ronnie Stark and
Deputy Coroner Catie Tucker responded and placed two victims in body bags.
Davidson Elementary School Administrative Assistant Lenora Woodard played the role of a grieving parent who heard about the crash and came to the scene only to discover her child was involved. Officers subdued Woodard and tried to console her as the students watched.
A landing zone was established as a Wings air evac helicopter was preparing to launch in Oxford to respond as part of the simulation. The chopper crew had to divert after receiving a call to respond to a medical emergency.
“Wings were involved in the preparation, they were part of the simulation even though they did not get come,” Police Chief Jason Mangrum reported.
The chief said reported that Chris Pullen and Jaryn Gooch, police officers assigned to the schools, planned the simulation. The simulation ended with a debriefing as Water Valley Police Sergeant Jakirio Horton and Coroner Stark provided final comments.
“Does anybody know how much you can drink and legally drive?” Sergeant Jakirio Horton asked the students. “The State of Mississippi has a zero tolerance for anyone under 21,” he answered. “That means you take one sip and you can get to our registered limit, .02 (blood alcohol concentration).”
Stark shared statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, explaining that vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death of teenagers. Stark also shared that almost a third of drunk drivers killed in crashes involve underage drinking. In 2022, percent of the young drivers killed in crashes, ages 15 to 20 years old, had consumed alcohol.
“These deaths are preventable,” Stark added. “Don’t drink and drive. Sadly people do it anyway.
Stark closed with personal experiences as a coroner.
“I drive to your house and knock on your door to tell your parents you have been killed in a car crash. You dead and don’t have to witness this. Your dad, he is screaming your name over and over. Your mom, she is pulling her hair out and curls up on the floor with her hand over her head as if trying to block the news she just received,” Stark said.
Stark told the students that he has tried to comfort families hurting in these situations, but there is nothing he can say or do to ease their pain. Next the parents have to wake up the siblings and give them the tragic news.
“All of this can be avoided by not drinking,” Stark added. “But if you do, you can call someone to pick you up. You can spend the night where you are at. You can even call me, I would rather give you a ride home that take you to the morgue.”
