Operation Prom 2008
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Missy Thompson
missy@page1publications.com
It’s every family’s nightmare: you’re driving along a road you’ve traveled a countless number of times. Laughter fills the car, and suddenly, out of nowhere, your car is struck by another.
Glass is everywhere, steam rolls from under the hood. You try to make sense of what happened, check yourself over, when your spouse screams that your child is hurt and isn’t breathing.
While you tend to your child and call 911, you notice that the other vehicle is totalled beyond recognition. There is a young girl on the hood, and you hear screaming coming from inside their car.
The driver stumbles from his spot behind the wheel, reeking of alcohol. That’s when it hits you: your family has been the victim of a drunk driver.
This was the scene at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church last Wednesday, just a few days before the Senior High prom. The mock accident was put together with help from the Parent Communication Network (PCN), Senior High staff, NCTC Paramedicine students, Stennes Funeral Home along with the East Grand Forks Police and Fire Departments.
Juniors and Seniors from Senior High walked over from the school to witness the consequences of drinking and driving.
After the “accident,” students watched as one of their friends was placed into a body bag and taken away from the scene in a hearse. Some students were overcome with grief, consoling each other with hugs.
After the “scene” work was completed, the deceased girl’s best friend, Ellen Larson, read a eulogy for her and Ben Dorman, a nurse from Altru Emergency Room, talked about the treatments that the survivors would receive in the hospital.
Ron Galstad, the City Attorney, talked about the legal ramifications of this incident, which includes possible bankruptcy after several lawsuits.
Gloria Zak, whose 17-year-old son from Senior High was killed by a drunk driver shortly before the start of his senior year four years ago, bravely told her story.
“This was all too real,” Gloria said. “You think it’s just in the movies, but I had a Sheriff’s deputy ring my doorbell at three in the morning to tell me that my son was killed by a drunk driver.
“I hope you think seriously about your actions on prom night. I don’t want any other families to have to go through what my family had to go through,” Gloria added.
Most of the students took the presentation seriously and walked away in silence. Hopefully the accident scene and speakers’ testimonials was enough to make the students think twie about drinking and driving.