Mock Accident

The Cromwell Police Department in conjunction with the Cromwell School System, Cromwell Fire Department and EMS, and many other willing participants staged a mock drunk driving accident Wednesday, May 18th at the Cromwell High School. The "accident" was staged in a joint effort to encourage students not to drink and drive. It was no coincidence that this staged the week before their prom and the end of the school year. School Resource Officer, Kevin Vandersloot, has been planning the incident for many months.

The high school student actors were very believable and the scene was actually a very scary and realistic one. The event also showed the students the process that takes place once a major accident occurs. The police arriving on the scene first and surveying the situation. The Fire Department and EMS being contacted, as well as Lifestar in major accidents such as the one depicted. The participants being treated for injuries, the cars being stabilized, and the intoxicated person being tested and subsequently arrested for Driving Under the Influence.

During the entire presentation, the calm of the hundreds of student onlookers sent out the message that all the hard work that went into putting the day together was worthwhile. The somber faces of the many students seeing the realistic enactment showed that we had at least hit home with some students. That was our mission. We can't change things overnight, but if we have detoured one student (and hopefully more) from drinking and driving, well, then it was all worth it!

The "accident" would not have taken place and have been such a success if not for the help, hard work, and dedication of many people. We would like to thank ... The Cromwell School System, the Cromwell Fire Department and EMS, Lifestar, Hunters Ambulance, Middlesex Paramedics,  Bishop's Auto, Make-up artist  Pat O'Neal, Cromwell's Awareness Youth Action Council, and many students including Chris Bellamo, Russ Quick, Melissa Cardenas, Meaghan Dickerson, Katie LaMarr, Rob Lorenti, Kim McGuiness, Jason Santiago, Evan Taddeo, Elizabeth Valentin, and Geoff Zampino.