Prom Crash Simulation Delivers Sobering Message
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Student “victims” are removed from a vehicle by first responders during a staged crash simulation on April 1 at Water Valley High School ahead of prom, part of a coordinated effort by the Water Valley Police Department and Water Valley School District to highlight the dangers of impaired driving. See complete story on page 3.
WATER VALLEY – Multiple agencies participated in a staged drunk driving crash simulation in front of Water Valley High School last Wednesday, April 1, giving students a firsthand look at the real-life consequences of impaired driving just days before prom.
The event, coordinated by the Water Valley Police Department, was timed as juniors and seniors prepared for prom Saturday night. Participating agencies included the Water Valley Fire Department, Mississippi Highway Patrol, Yalobusha County Coroner’s Office, Yalobusha General Hospital EMS, Wings and several community volunteers.
The reenactment began as students were brought outside shortly after Lee Crocker of Lee’s Towing staged a two-vehicle crash scene. Within moments, emergency responders arrived, working through the chaos as they would in a real accident.
Lee Crocker of Lee’s Towing positions two wrecked vehicles for a staged crash simulation at Water Valley High School, aligning existing damage to create a scene so realistic it appears to be an actual accident.
Student actors portrayed victims in both vehicles, including two “intoxicated” occupants in one car and multiple injured passengers in the other. The scene also included a fatality, as Deputy Coroner Catie Childs performed the solemn duty of removing a “deceased” occupant.
As the simulation unfolded, students watched a chaotic and emotional scene play out, with distraught family members arriving, an impaired driver attempting to flee on foot, a field sobriety test and arrest, and the landing of a medical helicopter.
“The demonstration was designed to show the serious and often devastating consequences of impaired and distracted driving,” Water Valley Police Chief Jason Mangrum told the Herald. “From emergency medical response to the involvement of the coroner, each step was carried out with realism to emphasize how quickly a bad decision can change lives.”
While difficult to watch, the message was clear: the choices made behind the wheel matter, especially during prom season.
Crocker, who played a key role in the event, said he is already planning next year’s simulation and hinted it may be even more dramatic, possibly involving a rollover.
Deputy Coroner Catie Childs and Yalobusha Hospital EMS Director Chance Davis prepare to load a victim inside the coroner’s van. Thankfully the student victim’s death experience ended before the doors closed.
