Students get a crash course in the perils of drunk driving. With graduation and prom season underway, Shenendohowa School District is trying to combat teen drinking and driving. It's called Crash Day and it re-enacts a drunk driving accident. Our Sabina Kuriakose has more.
CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. -- It's the scene of a fatal accident. Two teens are dead, and the 19-year-old driver is drunk.
"Everything that's been done is an actual event. We just sped it up so we have time to show it," said Clifton Park Fire Chief Arthur Hunsinger.
It's a demonstration, part of Crash Day at Shenendehowa High School East. It's all part of a week-long effort by local law enforcement, fire departments and members of Shen's Students Against Destructive Decisions club (SADD), all to raise awareness about drunk driving.
"Over 20 years ago, we would sit at the firehouse on prom night knowing there was going to be an accident. In the last 15 years, that hasn't happened," said Hunsinger.
With junior prom coming up on Saturday, students and volunteers hope the simulated accident scene doesn't become a reality.
"Make sure who I'm in the car with and I know what people have been drinking so if need be I can just call my parents and be like, I need a ride home," said sophomore Kim Steward.
She's going to the junior prom, but after seeing the consequences of the wrong decisions, she plans to make the right ones.
"Just thinking this could be me or someone else, I'd hope somebody would think twice," said Steward.
"If we can get that message out to one person and save one life, then we've done our job," added Hunsinger.
