DWI simulation demonstrates dangers to Newton High School Students

Newton - Sirens blared and emergency vehicles emerged onto a scene of carnage in front of Newton High School on Friday. They were responding to a DWI accident that included one passenger that was trapped and one that had been flung out onto the road. Glass and car parts covered the Ryerson Avenue as police entered the scene, followed by the Newton First Aid Squad, Newton Fire Department and St. Clare’s Paramedics to tend to the victims of this accident. Metal crunched as the jaws of life cut through one of the vehicles to extricate the trapped passenger. Although realistic looking, the accident scene was a staged DWI simulation played out by volunteer student actors and in coordination with Newton’s Office of Emergency Management to raise awareness during prom and graduation seasons about the dangers and consequences drinking and driving, hazardous speeds and too many passengers. “We spend seconds on a judgment decision which effects the rest of our lives, nothing is more forever than dead,” said Newton Police Chief John Tomasula in addressing Newton High School students watching the demonstration emerge from the lawn in front of their school. “Nothing is more forever than knowing we’ve taken away college, weddings, jobs and children from our friends’ futures.” Newton High School Seniors Ashley Crater, age 17, and Matt Powers, Kassie Mokrzycki and Maxwell Paparella, all 18, played roles in the drama. According to Patrolman Kenneth Teets, Newton Police Department’s emergency management coordinator, the purpose of this exercise is to show students how a real-life tragedy would look. “I hope my classmates will realize how important this is and don’t take this lightly,” Mokrzycki said. The simulation chronicled the process used by emergency professionals to approach a serious accident and how the Newton Emergency Services work together. Detective Thomas Tosti of the Newton Police Department, who is also the department’s School Resource Officer/D.A.R.E. Officer reminded students of the statistics behind motor vehicle crashes. “It’s very important to pay attention to this, because this is the leading cause of how most young people die,“ said Tosti. “Motor vehicle accidents and crashes cause 42,000 deaths each year and 31 percent are due to alcohol.” Teets said there is a process which the OEM follows in severe cases and how the various offices work together. Newton’s Town Manager, Thomas Russo, Jr., oversees emergency operations and is notified during cases. In cases with student victims, Teets said the principal would be contacted to begin support for students; and the mayor and board of education would also be notified. During the simulation, first the police department arrived, and shortly thereafter the first aid squad. The fire department was also on hand. Crater, who was lying on the ground playing the passenger expelled from the vehicle, was removed from the scene in a body bag. Paparella was given a sobriety test and was hauled off in handcuffs. Mokrzycki was positioned by EMT’s onto a stretcher and backboard and taken away. Paramedics Robert Kiefer and Jack Negri, who said they are considered “emergency rooms on wheels, and providing advanced life support” while EMT’s provide the basics, works as a team with the first aid squad in serious cases. According to Jay Flanagan of the Newton Fire Department, the entrapped passenger is removed while an EMT talks them through the process as the fire department cuts away pieces of the car to free them. Flanagan said the average removal time is 15 minutes. Powers, who played the role of the entrapped passenger, said, “This event showed what can happen if one drinks and drives. It’s very frightening.” Newton High School Principal James Tasker said the school tries to do this exercise every two years. “The fire department, police department and first aid squad are wonderful with the students,” said Tasker. “If this saves one life, it is well worth the time.”