Mock accident held at Brooke High School

WELLSBURG -- A crowd gathered around two wrecked vehicles at the corner of Brooke High School's parking lot on Friday afternoon, watching as local police, firefighters and ambulance crews arrived to assist four teens inside them.

Their peers watched as one teen was escorted by sheriff's deputies and guided through a sobriety test, another was treated at the scene by emergency medical personnel and two others were loaded onto stretchers and into a waiting ambulance.

All of it was a simulation intended to send a message to students about the importance of using good judgment before getting behind the wheel of an automobile.

John White, a former sheriff's deputy serving as head of the school district's prevention resource officers, arranged the event, which included brief talks by several public officials who stressed the need to avoid driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs or while distracted by a cell phone.

Art students and makeup artists Alanna Kuchinski and Kendra James applied "bruises" and "cuts' to three of the four accident victims: Blake Stewart, Tristan Stevens and Sophia Cecchini.

Brayden played the intoxicated driver, who emerged unharmed.

The most challenging acting was probably that of Cecchini, who lay motionless on a stretcher, the accident's sole fatality, during an assembly that followed in the school's gym.

Brooke County Sheriff Richard Beatty was among several emergency officials who addressed the students there, opening with a "phone call" to report her death to her father.

Beatty said as prom and graduation season approaches, the National Transportation Safety Board has estimated that 1,000 youth, ages 16-18, in the U.S. will die in an auto accident in the next two weeks.

"One is too many. One-thousand is unacceptable," said Beatty, who urged Brooke students not to drive while under the influence or distracted.

"Or there's a good chance you'll wind up like this," he said while pointing to Cecchini on the stretcher.

Brooke County emergency medical technicians Erica Ferguson and Joel Graham, Follansbee Police and Fire Chief Larry Rea and Brooke County Sheriff's Deputy Gary Conley all reflected on experiences they've had responding to accidents resulting in death or serious injury.

Brooke County Assistant Prosecutor Allison Cowden shared her experience as the parent of a child involved in a serious auto accident while noting the potential legal repercussions of being under the influence and driving, including suspension of one's license and two to 10 years in jail.

Head Principal Eric James recalled a fellow baseball player he knew as a youth, an outstanding athlete who, following an accident involving alcohol, was left paralyzed from the waist down while his girlfriend was killed.

James told the students he and other staff at the school care deeply about them, and that's why they are encouraging them to use safety.

"We want you to have good times," he said, noting the upcoming prom.

"I also want to see you guys back here on Monday. I want to see you walk across the stage for your diploma."

James continued, "Someone said 'make the rest of your life the best of it.' The way to do that is to help ensure there is more to your life by making good decisions."