West Harrison High students promise to stay safe heading to prom

Today students at West Harrison High School had a first-hand look at what could happen if they partake in underage drinking and driving during prom season.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, for the past several years during prom weekend, approximately 300 teens have died in alcohol related car accidents. To help prevent students at West Harrison High School from being in that number, a mock car accident and funeral took place. West Harrison High teacher Tiffani Pollard said, “Hopefully what we get out of this is we have students that know that driving under the influence, driving distracted cannot only hurt them, but hurt the ones around them.”

A student-created mock funeral was set up for nine West Harrison seniors who tragically died on the night of the prom due to a distracted driver car accident. Harrison County Fire Chief Pat Sullivan said, “The most tragic thing is when a child dies. When a child dies because of either drinking and driving or texting, it’s just a double tragedy because it didn’t have to happen.”

After the mock funeral, students moved outside to step back in time to witness the dangers of driving while under the influence and distracted.

Senior Otis Gates participated in the mock accident and was the only survivor of the crash and says it depicts what can truly happen. “Just be safe, make responsible decisions, not to drink and drive. If you are underage, don’t drink at all.

Harrison County Sheriff’s Department, Harrison County Fire and Rescue, AMR Ambulance Service, along with Rescue 5 Life Flight, Harrison County coroner, and Riemann Funeral Home all participated in the mock accident to give it a life like feel. Senior Lily Shaw said, “Just like laying on the pavement, hearing the sirens coming, and hearing like what they say behind the scenes, it really puts into perspective how real it is and that it actually happens.”