First responders stage mock crash at Carrollton High School

Several area first responder agencies came together April 24 at Carrollton High School for a mock crash demonstration designed to highlight the dangers of impaired and distracted driving ahead of prom season.

The event, organized by the school’s Youth2Youth group, was held for juniors and seniors and combined classroom instruction with a staged crash scenario involving local emergency responders.

Students first gathered in the school’s Performing Arts Center, where Assistant Fire Chief Bill Wells and firefighter Landen McClelland spoke about how first responders handle serious traffic accidents and what they encounter at crash scenes.

“You don’t want to drink and drive. You don’t want to do drugs. You don’t want to speed,” Wells told students.

Following the presentation, students moved outside where a mock crash had been set up with multiple vehicles and student participants portraying victims with varying injuries.

Student actors in the mock crash included Brayden Limbacher, Kyleigh Adler, Riley Alborn, Faith Beavers, Aubrey Citro, Dallak Paulette, Callie Tapstott and Charity Pistory.

Local emergency agencies, including the Carrollton Fire Department, Carroll County Sheriff Calvin Graham, Carrollton Police Chief Tim Timberlake and Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers Bower and Sponaugle, responded to the scene along with EMS personnel. The scenario was treated as a real incident, with responders providing medical aid, removing victims from vehicles and securing the scene. Firefighters used rescue tools to cut doors from the vehicles, while EMS personnel transported injured students as if responding to an actual crash.

The demonstration included one student portrayed as a fatality and another taken into custody to demonstrate the consequences of driving under the influence.

After the demonstration, students were invited to sign a “Prom Promise” pledging not to drink and drive, text behind the wheel or speed. Those who signed received bracelets as reminders of their commitment.

“We appreciate all of the community members, Village Fire Dept Assistant Chief Bill Wells, and all the departments that took the time to make this happen,” said Youth2Youth advisor Belinda Mach.

Wells said he was encouraged by the students’ response to the demonstration.

“I was very impressed by how the students reacted and took the message serious,” Wells said. “I am very proud of young firefighter McClelland who assisted with delivering the message don’t drive under the influence, don’t speed and don’t text.”

The mock crash is part of a long-standing tradition at Carrollton, with the Carrollton Fire Department playing a key role in organizing and conducting the event since 1988.

For many years, Deluxe Body provided wrecked vehicles used in the demonstration. More recently, Brian Shuman of Countryside Recycling has taken on that role.

The event was previously led by firefighter Margaret Messier, who later passed the responsibility to Wells, who continues to oversee the program with assistance from fellow firefighters.

The demonstration also served as a training opportunity for new firefighters Hayden Thomas, Edgar Allison, Ben Stoneman and Tyson Baker.

Youth2Youth advisors Belinda Mach and Chris Woolf helped coordinate this year’s event, which aims to encourage students to make safe decisions during prom season and beyond.