Schools
Deadly Car Crash Simulated at North Springs for Students
Sandy Springs Fire Rescue and Police along with North Springs faculty simulated a deadly crash to motivate the Sandy Springs students to drive conscientiously. The school prom is Saturday night.
On Tuesday morning, nearly 500 North Springs Charter High School juniors and seniors were in an assembly about safe driving when the loud sound of a car crash interrupted the program. The students were told to leave the auditorium and go outside. There, in front of the school, they saw a badly crashed car, three Sandy Springs Fire trucks, two rescue vehicles, one EMS truck and nine fire fighters working hard to disassemble the car to extricate the victims inside.
Using axes and power tools, firefighters removed the car’s windshield, both doors and part of the roof to be able to reach the two teacher “victims” trapped inside. The driver, math teacher Scott Hetherington, turned out to be fatally wounded.
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The critically injured passenger, NS’ teacher of the year Karen Cushman, was lifted out of the car onto a back board and waiting gurney, which the EMT’s rushed to the ambulance truck.
Fortunately, the entire event was a simulation, planned by the school’s Student Government Association in cooperation with assistant principal Ryan Moore, Liberty Mutual’ s Brandi Easterly, who provided the crashed the car, and the city of Sandy Springs fire department and police.
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“The event was designed to really reinforce the need for students to be safe drivers and passengers,” said Moore. “We especially scheduled it before North Springs’ prom which is this Saturday night, May 5. We hope it makes a big impact on our students. I know it's made a big impact to the parents who’ve see the totaled car out front.”
“The crashed car made a big impression. Kids were surprised how difficult and long it was to free the passengers from the car,” said Student Government Association president, senior JaQuan Beachem. “They also liked our speaker, Mr. Wilensky; he was really engaging. ”
SGA president-elect, junior Annie Brandt added, “Afterwards we gave all the students pledge cards for their wallets which they could sign pledging they would be safer drivers and not be distracted. We hope everyone signed them. With a few changes we plan to do it again for next year's juniors and seniors.”