Mock crash drives home dangers of impaired, distracted driving

FINDLAY — The point of showing the dangers of impaired and distracted driving, said Hancock County Sheriff's Deputy Matt Crouch, is to save lives. The Hancock County Sheriff's Office staged a mock crash scenario at the Hancock County Fairgrounds Friday morning to show high school students from across the county what can happen if they don't make smart choices from behind the wheel. First responders from the sheriff's office, Hanco EMS, Allen Township Fire Department and Life Flight assisted with the scenario, which walked students through the aftermath of a serious crash from the initial 911 call to emergency response and extrication. Van Buren High School students portrayed students involved in the crash. Crouch said school resource officers and local agencies had been planning the event since last summer, though some last minute adjustments were needed. Despite the changes, he said, the priority remained clear. "We want to make sure we're providing this very important awareness to these students," Crouch said. "To provide them with the context for what could happen if they are found to be drinking and driving or distracted while driving … This is real." First responders were instructed to treat the scene as if it were an actual crash, though they slowed their pace so students could follow each step. The scenario included the "arrest" of a student portraying an intoxicated driver, the "death" of another student at the scene and a grieving mother attempting to run to her daughter in the crash. Crouch said the realism was very intentional. "By providing this awareness firsthand, what a crash scene looks like, that impact alone will hopefully open up their eyes and let them know that this is real life," he said. "They need to know that if something happens, it's that simple mistake that could be deadly." He said the most common causes of teen crashes include distracted driving, speeding and failing to maintain assured clear distance. Crouch, who did not experience a mock crash when he was in school, said he wishes he had. He thanked the agencies and volunteers who helped bring the demonstration to life. He said he wished teens understood the dangers of unsafe driving behaviors. With prom and graduation season approaching, he said there will be increased law enforcement patrols focused on safe driving. "I'm hoping it saves lives," he said.