The presentation, titled Drunk-u-Drama, took place on Oct. 13. It was a simulated car crash involving students under the influence of alcohol.
Juniors, seniors and Driver Ed students were invited to participate in the two hour assembly.
Associate Principal Renee Trotier said, “The first part of the assembly took place in the Theater, where Metro West Assistant Fire Chief Beirne debriefed the students about the simulation.”
After that, students moved outside, where two wrecked cars were set up on the football field. There, student actors and representatives from the St. Louis County Police Department and the Metro West Fire Protection District reenacted the aftermath of the accident.
“Students were given professional ‘Hollywood’ make-up. One passenger was ‘killed’ in the accident, while two were injured. There was a student that played the ‘drunk driver’ also,” Trotier said.
LHS School Resource Officer Helbig performed a sobriety check on the “drunk driver”. Shortly after, a fire truck, a police car, an ambulance and a helicopter arrived on the scene.
Junior Brittany Willis was the student that “died” in the accident. She said, “The purpose of the presentation was to show kids the result of drinking and driving.”
The presentation was strategically placed during Homecoming Week to discourage students from drinking and driving before and after the Homecoming football game and dance.
Willis said, “In the reenactment, the drunk driver has very little injuries but causes so much damage. It puts an image to the ‘rumors’ about drinking and driving.”
She continued, “I’m most excited for the impact that it will have on the students. It’s a pretty intense subject that I don’t think many people take seriously, but the reenactment really puts things in perspective.”
“Afterwards, students returned to the theater for the last 45 minutes. Officers took questions and talked about their experiences on real calls. They also discussed how alcohol has an impact on high schoolers’ lives,” Trotier said.
Willis hopes the demonstration will help keep kids safe. She said, “My only hope is that if we don’t touch everyone at least we touch someone.”
