Mock drunk driving accident at school

HERTFORD, N.C. (WAVY) - Don't drink and drive; it's a message that can't be repeated enough, especially for high school students before prom weekend.

Perquimans High School students knew they were attending an assembly about smart choices Thursday.

What students like senior Rachel Phthisic weren't supposed to know was that they'd be moved outside to view a mock drunk driving accident.

"It's a small school so it's kind of hard to hide stuff like that," said Nancy Harrell-Rountree, Safety Committee Chair.

School officials were hoping they'd get a genuine raw emotional response after students saw a group of recognizable Perquimans prom goers, under the influence, who had crashed into another vehicle.

Earlier in the day though, when some students saw the crashed car outside, word spread through text messages around the school. By 1:30 p.m., most knew.

Still, it was shocking.

"This is crazy, this is way more than I expected," said Phthisic.

First responders had to forcibly extract students from the car. There were stretchers, some were airlifted, and others weren't as lucky.

"It's really sad because a lot of them are my friends in there and that's kind of a wake up call for what could happen this weekend," said Phthisic.

"I don't think the message is lost. I think anytime you can show a teenager realistically right in front of them what could possibly happen, you make an impact," said Harrell-Rountree.

"If we saved one student from drinking this weekend and getting behind the wheel of a car then we did what we set out to do," she continued.