Emergency crews, fire, police, ambulance, MedEVac, and even a coroner, were called to the scene of a gruesome accident involving five high school students; one was declared dead.
A male student had gone through the windshield of a red Ford Ranger while another male student lay on the ground between the two vehicles. A female student was thrust up against the rear hatch door of an SUV.
The emergency teams worked to extract the victims.
Trooper David Beohm led one student, who had dried blood down the side of his face, away in handcuffs.
The entire student body of the Brandywine Heights High School watched intensely as the emergency teams tried to save their classmates. For some of these students, the scene reminded them of friends who had died in similar accidents. For others, it was a scary thought that this can actually happen to them.
The Sportsman Club of Brandywine Heights High School held its fifth annual Operation Prom, a mock car crash, on Wednesday, April 29. Along with the crash, there was a car and tractor show. It is the third year since the club added the car show and tractor day to the event.
Andrew Potteiger, superintendent, said the program is a combination of carefully selected speakers to discuss a topic related to student safety, primarily while driving, partnered with students watching what occurs in a mock accident.
“The impact that comes from a personal story and the realization of what emergency crews must do to free an injured person from a car accident provides a real message that is seen and heard,” said Potteiger. “Like any individual, our students react differently to various modes of communication. Some of our students will be impacted greatly by the speaker while the demonstration of the mock accident will affect others.”
Michele Moore, business teacher, FBLA adviser, NHS adviser, and SADD adviser had arranged for special guest speakers Jacy Good and her husband, Steve Johnson. Good and Johnson are advocates for cell phone-free roads and launched a program called, Hang Up and Drive.
“Her parents were killed in the accident caused by a cell phone-distracted driver and she was severely injured,” stated Moore.
Both of Good’s parents died in an accident caused by distracted driving. Good was given a 10% chance to live. Despite handicaps brought on by brain injury, Good began to campaign for a cell phone ban in Pennsylvania where she grew up and went to school.
“I thought it was good to explain that to all of the kids so they can have something at the back of their heads to think about,” said Analyse Treat, senior.
“I think it was eye opening and because it happened locally it, like, hit home even more,” said Brittani Ritter, senior.
“Because it’s a road that we drive on a regular basis,” added Treat.
Brooke Wengert, sophomore, had fake blood streaked down the side of her face. She was the victim thrust up against the rear door of the SUV.
“So many lives have been lost. I mean I lost a few friends texting and driving. Really it’s touching how he [Johnson] really stuck by her side [Good] and was there for her through everything. Just don’t drive while you’re on the phone. You see it like everyday,” said Brooke Wengert, sophomore.
“The goal in this event is to bring awareness to the seriousness of responsible decision-making especially when those decisions go in tandem with getting behind the wheel of a vehicle,” said Potteiger. “The format for this program allows for multiple modes of addressing the impact of the necessity to make responsible decisions.”
“The whole reason we do this every year is to make students think about what they’re doing, whether it be behind the wheel or even as a passenger, and the consequences that can come from poor decisions,” said Heather Damato, family and consumer sciences teacher. “If we can get a few students to think about what they’re doing and make smarter choices, then we’ve done our job.”
Curtis Miller, senior and driver of Ford Ranger involved in the mock crash, said, “It just makes you think all the time about what can happen to you if you’re driving drunk. Don’t do it in the first place. Distracted or anything I mean it doesn’t have to be your fault. The other person can cause you to lose your license.”
Jacob Moyer, senior and victim that landed on the hood of the truck, said, “I feel it’s a great experience for everybody in the school. Texting and driving is definitely a bad thing so is driving drunk like anything that distracts you from the road you shouldn’t be doing while you’re driving. Stuff like this can happen.”
Once the rescue crew got Moyer stabilized and ready for transport, he was put in the MedEVac helicopter that had landed nearby.
“It was really inspirational, you know, to be able to actually see a person firsthand who was in a situation like that because you’re always told not to talk and drive or text and drive, but when you actually see the effects it makes a bigger impact,” said Emma Lindenmuth, sophomore.
Lindenmuth’s friend and also a sophomore, Paige Fenstermacher said, “Yeah, especially when you hear people say oh my friend had a friend who got in an accident and has problems and now she’s disabled like you don’t really see the effects of it, but then when you have a person in front of you saying, ‘Yes. I was in that situation and here’s my entire story; here’s my emotions.’ Like, it’s really important for kids who do text and drive to understand that this can be you in two seconds.”
John Hollenbach, assistant chief deputy, addressed the students once the accident scene had been processed.
“What we have here today is one of your classmates killed in a car crash. For those of you that haven’t experienced the death of someone you love or a friend or someone you know, this is something that can happen when you drink and drive or when you text and drive. There are many distractions that a lot of kids do while they’re driving and this can be one of the results,” said Hollenbach
Hollenbach cited a recent case in which an Exeter high school student died in a car crash that is currently under investigation.
“What my office has to do is notify their family that they’re not coming home,” said Hollenbach. “We had to go knock on their door at six in the morning and tell the parents that their daughter was not coming home and then for two days we had to talk to the family about why they couldn’t see her; why we were doing an autopsy. They didn’t understand that. They thought they could just go see their daughter, take her to the funeral home, and start that process, but unfortunately because of the circumstances, we had to do an autopsy. That crash is still under investigation. That’s what happens when kids get in cars and they don’t pay attention or they do something illegal. We’re out here to show you guys the consequences of your actions and ask you to think before you get in the car what could happen.”
There wasn’t any chatter. It was dead silent when Hollenbach finished speaking. The students were invited to talk to the firemen and other emergency respondents.
“Every year we do a different scenario for the mock accident because it keeps the event interesting and is also a great training exercise for the emergency responders,” said Damato. “The fire company comes up with the scenario, and the Sportsman Club assists with the event and supplies the students as victims to be a part of the event.”
“I thought that the emergency responders did a great job. They were in place; they were in position; they had their stuff together. They hit the ground boots running and they took good care of the patients and they saved some lives,” said Brandon Michael Tressler, sophomore.
Tressler is planning a career in the military in CasualtyEVac or take combat lifesaver courses. He is currently training with the 28th National Guard Infantry Division in Fort Indian Town Gap. His friend Rebecca Cobo is also considering a medical career possibly as part of a MedEVac team because she is interested in aviation.
“I’m looking into a medical type career that may or may not be associated with this and pointed to the helicopter. I’ve also been interested in aviation for quite some time too.
“I really liked how they brought in all the different forces. I think it was really interesting to watch all of that,” said Cobo, sophomore.
Potteiger said the support and coordinated effort of all the different organizations involved to create this program in an effort to educate our students is always remarkable. I applaud the groups from the fire company, to the ambulance service to the Pennsylvania State Police and all the other organizations involved for their commitment to our school district and most importantly our students. We could not hold such a great event without their involvement.
