Schools

DWI Simulation Drives Home Message

Clarkstown North High School seniors began Tuesday morning with a harsh reminder of the dangers of DWI. The 10th annual DWI simulation involved a two car “fatal accident” with three juniors role-playing the drivers and victims and a recent graduate speaking about the death of a friend in a DWI crash in May.  

The simulation began with a Clarkstown police officer arriving at the scene of the head-on accident and calling for fire department and ambulance crews, who worked to extricate the passenger using the Jaws of Life to remove the roof and attempt to revive the female driver.  A police officer gave the teenaged male driver a field sobriety test and then took him to court for arraignment.  Bail was set at $250,000 after arraignment on DWI and aggravated vehicular homicide.  

Before the demonstration began, Principal Harry Leonardatos told students its purpose was to remind them to make smart and safe choices. North’s prom takes place on Thursday night.  

Emergency responders tried to revive the female driver who was not breathing and did not have a pulse and had suffered blunt force trauma to the head. The female passenger had severe neck injuries and had to be stabilized while the roof of the car was cut off.  

Seniors Billy DeLay, Lauren Lee and Caralyn Curley said the simulation delivered a strong message.  

“It was very horrifying,” said Lee. “Just imagining it can happen is unfathomable.”  

Curley and DeLay said it was important that the message go out to teenagers.  
“I think it was good for people to see higher schoolers (involved),” said Curley.  

DeLay said they hear about accidents involving drinking or drugs but when you learn about one that involves someone you know it is eye opening.  

Nick Rendina, 19, of Congers spoke about losing a fraternity brother last month. Rendina, who attends Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT, said his friend died the day before his graduation. Rendina described the accident, saying his friend’s car hit a tree, ejecting him through the windshield and that his body landed 70 feet away.  

“Try and make the right decisions,” Redina told the seniors. “It’s not a good feeling waking up to a text from someone saying someone you know or someone you’re really close with is no longer with you.”  

Participating in the mock DWI resonated with the student volunteers. After the program ended and they were still splattered with fake blood juniors Nida Jamshed, Melissa Mathew and Jared Policar said it had been scary for them.  

“It was very realistic,” said Jamshed, who played the role of the passenger. “It was definitely a lesson.”  

Mathew, who acted as the driver who died in the crash said,  “The scariest part was when they put the sheet over my head.”  

The DWI simulation involved dozens of trained volunteers including 20 New City firefighters, 15 New City Ambulance Corps members, Clarkstown police officers, Town Justice Howard Gerber and Higgins Funeral Home, which provided a hearse. Congers Fire Department volunteers intended to participate but had to respond to a call and plans for a Hackensack Medical Center's emergency helicopter to land were changed because it was needed for a medical emergency.  

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