Mock DUI to Teach Dangers of Drunk Driving

It's a nightmare no parent or teen should have to endure and members of Merrimack's Student Against Destructive Decisions group are readying to present what should be a stark reminder to their classmates of the dangers of drinking and driving.

S.A.D.D., in conjunction with several members of the community will present their annual mock DUI to the senior class on Wednesday morning, replete with the emotion and anxiety that comes with a crash of the nature that they have planned as part of the half-a-day-long program.

High School English teacher Kathie Fitzgerald and four senior members of S.A.D.D. spent Monday afternoon going over the plan for the mock crash and the guest speakers that will follow, hammering out details, discussing how they would react in a situation like they one they have the task of presenting and rehearsing how they will act it out.

Jess Naber, Amanda Goddard, Sarah Martin and Jess Lorento, will perform in the mock DUI in conjunction with members of the Merrimack Police, Fire and Rescue departments, Mark Rivet of Rivet Funeral Home among other community members who will help set the stage for the multi-car crash.

Fitzgerald, who co-advises the group with Social Studies teacher Emily Hartmann, said they do this event every year, which serves as a sobering reminder to seniors that the dangers of drinking and driving are very real.

The crash actors say it hits home because the people who are "involved" are known around school.

"One of the police officers pointed out that everyone knows what happens through TV and movies, but the difference with this is they know us," Goddard, a four-year member of S.A.D.D., said.

"Teenagers always think, like, 'Oh that's never going to happen to me,' " Martin added.

Fitzgerald added that bringing in a family element, by having a parental figure as part of the scene adds to the emotion of the event.

"The kids are able to stop and say 'My gosh, that could be my mom,'" Fitzgerald said.

The group has been working since November on putting the event together. Between gettings volunteers to help and sponsors as well as finding local experts for a post-scenario presentation and setting the stage itself, they've put a lot of work into Wednesday's event.

"It's a huge endeavor," Fitzgerald said.

Volunteers and sponsors for this years program include the aforementioned participants as well as Jim Bailey from Bailey's Towing who provides the totaled cars, Rock 101 who made a recording for the group to use to kick off the program, Dominoes Pizza, Little Debbie, Pepsi, Merrimack Flower Shop and Greenhouse, Dan Bantham – a State Farm Insurance representative, and Mark Osborne, a criminal defense lawyer who will be a guest speaker after the mock DUI is over.

Bantham, who has participated as a sponsor and volunteer for this event over the last several years said being part of this event is important to him because it hits close to home and he believes that it truly saves at least one life every year.

Bantham knows first-hand the devastation that comes with losing someone in a drunk driving crash. He lost his high school girlfriend when she was killed by a drunk driver.

Bantham said his first year he was a part of the program was all he needed to get involved with it for years to come.

"I walked away thinking, 'we saved at least one life today,' " Bantham said.

A MHS girls' soccer coach, Bantham said he also enjoys being involved in this project because he enjoys working with the town's students at every juncture he can. It also ties in with what he does for work.

He said he'd even like to see the program presented to the younger students at the school.

"By the time these kids are seniors, they've had multiple opportunities already when they've had the choice to make about whether to drink and drive," Bantham said.

Throughout the year, S.A.D.D. is responsible for several events that raise awareness to topical issues and provide service to the community.

These events include Red Ribbon Week, the Mr. MHS fundraiser, Junior Impact, a speaker who talks to juniors ahead of their prom about drinking and driving; Remember Alex Brown, a program that talks about the dangers of texting and driving; and they collect dresses for the Cinderella Project every other year, among other things.

"We try to do positive things for the community as well as provide public awareness programs," Fitzgerald said.

Students will participate in the Mock DUI event from 9:30 a.m. until around noon.