by John Harvey
By simulating a car crash with two teenage fatalities, Project Impact showed the risks and consequences of drinking or texting while driving.
The event, which was sponsored by the Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center and Department of Surgery, took place on the driving range before spring break. Its mission, according to its website, includes “educating students about the realities of trauma associated with risk-taking behaviors such as distracted driving, substance use and teen dating violence.”
Driver education teacher Anthony Sorbello worked with Project Impact coordinator Nicole Akindyou and VCU to select the date, choose student actors and arrange for nurses and first responders to participate. During the simulation, organizers placed three students in a wrecked car donated from an accident.
Over 350 students viewed the simulation. Before it began, Ms. Akindyou told students that they were going to watch what happens after a car wreck: Henrico County firemen removed two fatalities from the car, and Henrico County police arrested the driver.
Henrico County Student Resource Officer Bradley Thompson tested the driver for alcohol, handcuffed him and drove him away in a police vehicle.
“It doesn’t really hit home until you see it,” Officer Thompson said.
The simulation showed students lying dead after their drunk driver crashed their vehicle, destroying the front end of the car. Sights included a body that was launched through the window, the arrival of firefighters and their attempt to save a victim stuck in the car and a scene showing a survivor passing away in a hospital.
In the auditorium after the simulation, former police officer Brad Hughes spoke with the students about his experience in a traffic accident that resulted in the loss of both of his legs. In the panel discussion, students asked questions of participating nurses and students.
Although a real accident would last much longer with more complex procedures, Mr. Sorbello said that the simulation was “eye-opening” because it presented the risks of distracted driving to students.
“Experience is a great teacher,” Mr. Sorbello said.
Officer Thompson said the simulation was accurate and “realistic in the time crunch we were in.” An actual deadly crash, according to Officer Thompson, would have been lengthier with more processes such as contacting parents and a longer treatment in the hospital.
Freshman Anthony Hammond and sophomore Bryan Barnes volunteered to perform as victims of a DUI. Anthony portrayed the drunk driver, and Bryant was one of the dead passengers.
Bryant, who expressed concern about distracted driving among teens, said that many students don’t bother to learn of the dangers that Project Impact depicted.
“Their lives are real,” Bryan said. “Their mama isn’t there to baby them.”
Anthony said Project Impact was executed well, but it was difficult to stay still for such a long time before he was handcuffed and driven away in a police car.
Sophomore Jacob Parker was critical of the students who didn’t take the message of Project Impact seriously.
However, geometry teacher Georgiana Hahn said that Project Impact affected teachers and students.
“I found it very shocking to see a student lying over the hood of the car; that affected me the most,” Mrs. Hahn said.
Sophomore De’Jahneal Jefferson-Mills said that Project Impact has influenced her to drive more safely and perform better in her driver education classes.
“It was successful; they came here to make a point,” De’Jahneal said. They showed Varina students how “serious driving is.”
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