Pre-prom crash, mock trial leaves impression on students
COLERAIN TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WKRC) - Seniors at Northwest High School got an up-close look at how things can go terribly wrong on prom night when alcohol and drugs are combined with driving.
The Colerain Township fire and police departments set up two wrecked cars at the school Tuesday afternoon. Students dressed in prom dresses were made up with fake blood to mimic injuries.
In the demonstration, student Harleigh Warren’s mother showed up at the scene of the crash distraught. Warren’s character didn’t survive the crash. The driver she was with, played by senior Kieron Harrell, was arrest after failing a field sobriety test.
The lesson was timely, since a student died following a crash before prom in Butler County last Friday night. Sheriff’s deputies said speed was likely a factor in that incident.
“We usually try to stay within the speed limit and follow the rules, but sometimes it gets distracting when you’re with your friends and you’re trying to have fun,” said Northwest senior Safa Azad.
Firefighters and police removed an "injured" student from one of the cars and loaded her onto a medical helicopter. A short time later, a mock trial was held inside the school where Harrell was "sent to jail" until he was 21.
“Look, it was only a couple of beers. It’s not like I shot up heroin or something,” Harrell said during the court proceeding.
“We want to impress upon them that there are consequences to their actions,” said Robert Rielage of the Colerain Fire Dept.
The mock crash and trial was simply a demonstration, but it left an impression the students who will go to prom Friday. The hope is the lesson will stay with them even longer.
“You should take every moment seriously, especially behind a vehicle,” Azad said.
