Cascade Fakes Drunk Driving Accident

By Katie Wiedemann, Reporter

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By Katie Wiedemann

Story Created: Apr 24, 2009 at 3:26 PM CST

Story Updated: Apr 24, 2009 at 5:22 PM CST

Cascade - Emergency crews received an urgent call for help this morning.
One person dead, several others injured. But it wasn't real.
Student actors and rescue crews staged a drunk driving accident to send a message. The simulation happened right in front of Cascade High School as students arrived to class.
The seemingly real results of the mock accident struck a nerve with many students.
Staged accident, real tears.
Jenna Connolly said, "It all seemed really real, like it actually did happen."
Matt Ahern said, "It was like really real. Like a friend was dying."

More than seven hundred students at Cascade High School were captivated.
In this scenario, a group of intoxicated teenagers crashed into another car carrying a young couple and their baby.
One passenger was dead after being ejected from the car and two others were hurt.
Students watched the whole thing play out and couldn't take their eyes off the chaotic scene.

Cascade Fire Department’s Denny Green said, "That's what we were going for, we want it to be as realistic as possible. So the people watching can get a feel for what a scene is like."

Mission accomplished. Sophomore Matt Ahern says the scene hit close to home.

Ahern said, "It did, because it could actually happen to you one day."

Adrianne Kurt said, "It gives me a whole new perspective on drinking and driving with alcohol, it changes things."

The Cascade Fire Department organized the crash simulation.
Rescue crews say this scene is meant to discourage drinking and driving to all people, not just high school students.

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