Things got scary for Roy High School students on Friday and it had nothing to do with Halloween. As students filled the stands of the school’s football stadium many were taken aback by the scene on the football field – two cars crashed together with eight of their fellow students in various states of duress – one was lying across the hood of the car and all had blood oozing from different parts of their bodies.
The scene was set up by the school and the Roy fire department and police departments as a mock disaster to show students the affect of texting and driving. Students participating spent the morning with the drama teacher getting them looking like they had just been in a car accident.
As the assembly began, a crying student came across the loudspeaker in a simulated 911 call. Soon after the call, emergency responders rolled into the football field — police cars, ambulances and paramedics —and responded just like they would in a real accident scene. As the first responders assessed the situation and started getting some kids out of the cars, students in the bleachers talked and pointed as more responders came on the scene.
Students responded with shock and aahs as a white sheet came out to cover the student draped across the car hood. “Not Marcus!” one student exclaimed from the stands. As another responder carried a white sheet to the other car, another student exclaimed, “I can’t take all this death.” Soon an AirMed helicopter was on scene and a student was flown away.
RELATED GALLERIES
Don't Text and Drive assembly at Roy High
An assembly warning students not to text and drive was held on the Royals football field at Roy High School in Roy on Friday, October 31, 2014. The Roy City police department and fire department along with 911 dispatch, AirMed, Kirk's towing and students and faculty from Roy High collaborated to put the event together. According to research Roy High Principal Gina Butters found cellphone related accidents kill more than Roy High's entire student body on a daily basis by almost double.
Students were surprised with how real the scene was.
“I thought they were just going to talk to us about texting and driving. It’s crazy how this is really happening,” said 17-year-old senior Carly Burbeck. “It’s scary. It really hits you to know that this is legit.”
The reality of what can happen when texting and driving are mixed hit home for Burbeck and her friends.
“When I first came out I was shocked. This is a really serious thing,” 16-year-old Alex Weaver said. “I always see stuff like this on commercials but when you see it up close like this it makes it all real.”
Fire Chief Jason Poulsen said the school officials, fire department and law enforcement wanted to do this to kick off a “no texting and driving” campaign because it is now state law.
“We are trying to educate the community and students,” Poulsen said.
They wanted the students who are new drivers to see the realities of what can happen when texting or distracted driving takes place, he said.
Senior Marcus Mitchell was playing the deceased student for the event and said he didn’t hesitate when he was asked to participate. As he laid across the hood of the car, fake blood smeared on his face and the car, he said he hoped it all felt real to the students.
“I want them to know that it is not OK to text and drive, and to be safe,” Mitchell said.
Things got more quiet in the stands when Mitchell’s mom, Mindy Pilewicz, arrived and was told her son was killed.
“Not his mom,” one student said.
Poulsen talked to the students and asked them how many drive and then how many text and drive. Many hands were still up. He told them they needed to stop.
Principal Gina Butters then spoke to students and told them how often she sees the students text and drive.
“It is dismaying,” she said.
Pilewicz addressed the students as well. She became emotional as she advised the students to be safe.
“We want you to make safe choices and come home to your families,” she said.
She told the students when they send a text it takes five seconds.
“That’s like driving across this football field blindfolded,” she said.
For at least some students, what they saw had an impact.
“I know I won’t text and drive and I always tell my friends to put their phones away,” Weaver said.
That’s what Poulsen is hoping for.
“We don’t want anyone in our country or state to be hurt, but we really want to you in our community to be safe.”
The scene was set up by the school and the Roy fire department and police departments as a mock disaster to show students the affect of texting and driving. Students participating spent the morning with the drama teacher getting them looking like they had just been in a car accident.
As the assembly began, a crying student came across the loudspeaker in a simulated 911 call. Soon after the call, emergency responders rolled into the football field — police cars, ambulances and paramedics —and responded just like they would in a real accident scene. As the first responders assessed the situation and started getting some kids out of the cars, students in the bleachers talked and pointed as more responders came on the scene.
Students responded with shock and aahs as a white sheet came out to cover the student draped across the car hood. “Not Marcus!” one student exclaimed from the stands. As another responder carried a white sheet to the other car, another student exclaimed, “I can’t take all this death.” Soon an AirMed helicopter was on scene and a student was flown away.
RELATED GALLERIES
Don't Text and Drive assembly at Roy High
An assembly warning students not to text and drive was held on the Royals football field at Roy High School in Roy on Friday, October 31, 2014. The Roy City police department and fire department along with 911 dispatch, AirMed, Kirk's towing and students and faculty from Roy High collaborated to put the event together. According to research Roy High Principal Gina Butters found cellphone related accidents kill more than Roy High's entire student body on a daily basis by almost double.
Students were surprised with how real the scene was.
“I thought they were just going to talk to us about texting and driving. It’s crazy how this is really happening,” said 17-year-old senior Carly Burbeck. “It’s scary. It really hits you to know that this is legit.”
The reality of what can happen when texting and driving are mixed hit home for Burbeck and her friends.
“When I first came out I was shocked. This is a really serious thing,” 16-year-old Alex Weaver said. “I always see stuff like this on commercials but when you see it up close like this it makes it all real.”
Fire Chief Jason Poulsen said the school officials, fire department and law enforcement wanted to do this to kick off a “no texting and driving” campaign because it is now state law.
“We are trying to educate the community and students,” Poulsen said.
They wanted the students who are new drivers to see the realities of what can happen when texting or distracted driving takes place, he said.
Senior Marcus Mitchell was playing the deceased student for the event and said he didn’t hesitate when he was asked to participate. As he laid across the hood of the car, fake blood smeared on his face and the car, he said he hoped it all felt real to the students.
“I want them to know that it is not OK to text and drive, and to be safe,” Mitchell said.
Things got more quiet in the stands when Mitchell’s mom, Mindy Pilewicz, arrived and was told her son was killed.
“Not his mom,” one student said.
Poulsen talked to the students and asked them how many drive and then how many text and drive. Many hands were still up. He told them they needed to stop.
Principal Gina Butters then spoke to students and told them how often she sees the students text and drive.
“It is dismaying,” she said.
Pilewicz addressed the students as well. She became emotional as she advised the students to be safe.
“We want you to make safe choices and come home to your families,” she said.
She told the students when they send a text it takes five seconds.
“That’s like driving across this football field blindfolded,” she said.
For at least some students, what they saw had an impact.
“I know I won’t text and drive and I always tell my friends to put their phones away,” Weaver said.
That’s what Poulsen is hoping for.
“We don’t want anyone in our country or state to be hurt, but we really want to you in our community to be safe.”
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