ALEXANDRIA — The scenario was frightening.
Two vehicles collide head-on in a drunk driving crash, killing one and injuring several others.
The above video depicts what happens before the crash.
The aftermath unfolded in front of a large group of Alexandria Area High School students who watched in stunned silence.
It was all part of a mock car crash staged by the Douglas County Toward Zero Deaths Safe Communities Coalition on Tuesday morning, May 10.
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The effort involved local law enforcement and emergency responders who conducted a dramatic and realistic presentation of the events that could occur in a teen traffic crash because of distractions, impairment and not wearing seat belts.
AAHS students from the junior and senior classes witnessed the presentation.
The event began indoors in the school’s commons area with a pre-crash video created by the mock crash victims and continued outdoors to the Performing Arts Center parking lot on the north side of the school.
The mock crash involved the Alexandria Police Department, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, North Memorial Ambulance, Horizon Public Health, Life Link III, Alexandria Fire Department, Alomere Heath, Anderson Funeral Home, West Central EMS, Budget Auto, and Alexandria Area High School staff and students.
The drama of the crash had touches of realism – law enforcement, ambulance personnel and firefighters responding to the school; a helicopter landing at the scene; and the funeral home arriving to transport a deceased victim.
Afterward, the mock crash victims talked to students, sharing how their lives would be forever changed because of the crash. Participating agencies led a debriefing exercise where a representative from each agency spoke to the students about their role in responding when a crash occurs in the community.
The Douglas County TZD Safe Communities Coalition promotes and implements traffic safety in partnership with the statewide traffic safety program. Its goal is to decrease traffic-related injuries and fatalities in Douglas County through collaborative and preventative partnership efforts.
B-E HS Mock Crash Talking Points by Celeste Edenloff on Scribd
On the next day, Wednesday, May 11, the coalition presented another mock crash at Brandon-Evansville High School. Students in 9th through 12th grades watched the crash simulation near the softball field on the west side of the school.
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This presentation involved many of the same agencies, as well as the Brandon Fire Department, Minnesota State Patrol, Glenn’s Towing, and Brandon-Evansville High School staff and students.
For additional teen traffic safety points from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, go to the website, https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/ots/Pages/default.aspx .
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