Noble and Cass-Clinton firefighters work to free victims from a crumpled car. (Bob Wellinski)
EMS and fire personnel wheel a victim to an ambulance. (Bob Wellinski)
A sheriff’s deputy conducts a sobriety test on a driver. (Bob Wellinski)
The driver is ultimately handcuffed and arrested for impaired driving. (Bob Wellinski)
Students watch the dramatization. (Bob Wellinski)
Photos by Bob Wellinski and LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office (click to enlarge)
Story from LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office
Tires screeching, broken glass, a loud explosion all kicked of a dramatic demonstration at South Central School Friday morning, April 24, 2015, that clearly got students’ attention regarding the dangers of impaired driving.
LaPorte County Sheriff’s Deputy Scott Lanoue, the school resource officer at South Central, worked with the school to arrange for the mock crash held the day before the school’s prom.
Friday’s scenario involved two cars that crashed with a total of five people injured and one fatality. Firefighters used special equipment to extricate the injured and deputies took one driver into custody after he failed a field sobriety test. REMC added to the drama by staging the vehicle with a downed utility pole and live wires. LaPorte County EMS and Noble and Cass-Clinton fire departments tended to the victims. LaPorte County Coroner John Sullivan confirmed the death of one victim.
LaPorte County Sheriff John Boyd, who spoke with the students, shared a startling statistic: One-third of all fatalities involving teenagers occur during prom season. LaPorte County has not suffered a tragedy during prom season for 12 years and hopes that record continues for years and years.
The sheriff’s office and all emergency personnel join all schools in LaPorte County in encouraging students to make safe decisions, particularly during prom season.
Besides sheriff’s deputies Scott Lanoue and Bobby Greer, Noble and Cass-Clinton firefighters, EMS, the coroner and REMC personnel, the sheriff’s office would like to commend the following businesses and people who made the demonstration possible: John’s Garage, South Central Superintendent Linda Wiltfong, and the students and staff at South Central.
Another victim is taken to an ambulance. (Bob Wellinski)
Firefighters work to free victims. (Bob Wellinski)
Another part of the sobriety field testing. (Bob Wellinski)
Students watch the action. (Bob Wellinski)
This sheriff’s office photo captures the hard reality of such a situation.
After the demonstration, emergency personnel talk with students. (Bob Wellinski)
Emergency workers pose with South Central students who participated in the dramatization. (Sheriff’s office)