The living dead, students playing the role of drunk driving victims, parade out of Hays High School as part of the Shattered Dreams program last week. (Photo by Bruce Fisher)
STAFF REPORT
Local first responders and students staged a full-scale mock drunk driving crash in front of Hays High School on Thursday as part of the Shattered Dreams anti-drinking and driving program.
Hays County Sheriff’s Office deputies, Kyle and Buda police and fire departments, Texas Department of Public Safety troopers, a local ambulance service, Seton Medical Center Hays and Harrell Funeral Home participated in the drama.
Students played the roles of dead and injured car wreck victims, one of which will be taken by medical helicopter to the hospital. A student will also play the role of a drunk driver responsible for the accident.
Throughout the school day, students were pulled from their classes at the rate of one every 15 minutes, the same rate at which people die in drinking related car crashes in the U.S. The ‘living dead’ students returned to class, darkly painted and dressed, and were not supposed to speak for the rest of the day.
The bloody theatrics were part of a weeklong roster of anti-drinking and driving and anti-texting and driving program at Hays High. Started by Pct. 2 Justice of the Peace Beth Smith and her daughters in 2001, the mock crash is staged at least once every three years. Student council sponsor David Bowe coordinates the efforts.
