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Maryville, Mo. —
As the sound of sirens filled the air along much of the south side of Maryville Tuesday morning, area high school students could only sit and watch.
The occasion was the annual "docudrama" held for high school sophomores in an attempt to educate young people about the high human cost of reckless and drunken driving.
Though they were only acting, several senior students put on a convincing show as those involved in the "crash."
Following a brief, but loud, interpretation of events during the accident, Nodaway County paramedics, peace officers and rescue personnel flooded the mock crash scene.
As the actors let out screams of pain, those who were able fled the scene in an attempt to escape retribution for their drunk driving.
Once the scene was secured and the drunken driver arrested, the county coroner and local funeral home personnel arrived to remove the students who had "died" in the crash. Two young victims didn't make it. Both were passengers.
The sophomores were taken inside The Hangar cinemaplex — where the parking lot was the crash scene — for an educational film produced by the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
An actual crash survivor and police officers provided more detailed safe-driving advice to the students, most of whom have recently received their driver's licenses.
"It's all about choices," said Missouri State Highway Patrol Sgt. Shane Sims. "It's about making the right choice."
As if having actual officers and survivors tell their stories weren't enough, the tearful Nodaway County coroner shared his real stories.
"I've closed the zipper on too many body bags for senseless reasons," Coroner Vince Shelby said. "Any number of physical things can happen to you in a wreck. So make smart decisions and think about tomorrow.
"It's not an easy thing that I do, but I'll keep doing it as long as I have to. I sure hope you can help me to not have to do this."
For sophomore student Kristen Shipps, the experience was a bit surprising.
"I really learned how impacting a single mistake can be," Shipps said. "And that wearing a seat belt and not drinking or texting while driving is important."
As the sound of sirens filled the air along much of the south side of Maryville Tuesday morning, area high school students could only sit and watch.
The occasion was the annual "docudrama" held for high school sophomores in an attempt to educate young people about the high human cost of reckless and drunken driving.
Though they were only acting, several senior students put on a convincing show as those involved in the "crash."
Following a brief, but loud, interpretation of events during the accident, Nodaway County paramedics, peace officers and rescue personnel flooded the mock crash scene.
As the actors let out screams of pain, those who were able fled the scene in an attempt to escape retribution for their drunk driving.
Once the scene was secured and the drunken driver arrested, the county coroner and local funeral home personnel arrived to remove the students who had "died" in the crash. Two young victims didn't make it. Both were passengers.
The sophomores were taken inside The Hangar cinemaplex — where the parking lot was the crash scene — for an educational film produced by the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
An actual crash survivor and police officers provided more detailed safe-driving advice to the students, most of whom have recently received their driver's licenses.
"It's all about choices," said Missouri State Highway Patrol Sgt. Shane Sims. "It's about making the right choice."
As if having actual officers and survivors tell their stories weren't enough, the tearful Nodaway County coroner shared his real stories.
"I've closed the zipper on too many body bags for senseless reasons," Coroner Vince Shelby said. "Any number of physical things can happen to you in a wreck. So make smart decisions and think about tomorrow.
"It's not an easy thing that I do, but I'll keep doing it as long as I have to. I sure hope you can help me to not have to do this."
For sophomore student Kristen Shipps, the experience was a bit surprising.
"I really learned how impacting a single mistake can be," Shipps said. "And that wearing a seat belt and not drinking or texting while driving is important."
