Community Corner
Mock Tragedy Strikes North Penn High School
North Penn Seniors learn the consequences of drinking and driving
On Tuesday morning, near the bus circle of , a bloody right arm stuck out from under a white sheet that was draped grimly over the high schooler's body.
His feet were still inside the passenger side of the maroon Hyundai. A pool of blood settled into the pores of the asphalt near his head.
Closeby, there was another victim: a young girl in a pink plaid coat, her right foot bent to the side following the ejection.
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The front-end of the Hyundai was smashed beyond recognition. The same goes for the purple Plymouth sedan that met it head-on. The driver of that car wasn't so lucky either.
A sped onto the scene. The loud sirens of Towamencin Vol. Fire Co. followed behind. Eventually, a PennStar MedEvac helicopter touched down in the grassy zone of near the bus circle.
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This was too evident and too obvious of the consequences of drinking and driving.
"If we can prevent one crash, or save one life, then it's worth the time and the effort."
That's the last thing Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Ferman said during an interview following a mock DUI crash scene at North Penn High School.
The North Penn DUI Task Force, aided by the Towamencin Fire Company and the Lansdale Volunteer Medical Service Corps, staged a bloody two-car accident outside of the school, in an effort to show students the reality of what can happen when you drink and drive.
The annual event was coordinated by Assistant Principal Doug Povilaitis, who also serves as the school's Safe and Drug Free Schools coordinator.
"The student response has been excellent. They love the helicopter and fire response, but they also take away the message that this is serious," said Povilaitis.
The event featured a true-to-form response to a fatal collision, complete with police and fire rescue, use of the Jaws of Life, and even a MedEvac. Two narrators guided the students through the evolving scene, which ended with one dead, several injuries, and one arrest.
Check out our video coverage of the event, complete with an exclusive interview with Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Ferman. Additionally, there's a large photo gallery which documents the event from beginning to end.
