Metro High School Stages Powerful Mock Car Crash

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- With prom season upon us, high school students are hearing about the effects of drinking and driving.

Mock crashes are common this time of year, but a Twin Cities high school is taking theirs to new heights.

They used a grant and weeks of planning to send a message to fellow classmates and students.

"We want to show them that this stuff does happen and it's real and it's scary," senior actress Siena Boser said.

On a sunny, spring morning at Mound-Westonka High School, a dark scenario played out.

It's something the students hope they never have to witness in real life.

"We hope that it impacts them so they won't be in a situation like this," she said.

Siena and her fellow student actors spent weeks planning this mock crash.

It is prom night, the student driver has been drinking and he hits a car with a mom and child inside.

The driver's date is thrown from the vehicle and dies.

His friends in the back of the car suffer serious injuries.

CPR is performed on the mom in the other car.

And the driver, the person responsible for the crash, is ultimately arrested for drunk driving.

"We just tried to really make it feel like it was a real situation that could happen to any one of us," student-actor Hogan Kelly said.

The students got some help from Minnetrista police and firefighters, along with paramedics, a medical examiner and even North Memorial Air Care.

The costumes were tailored and the blood was made from corn syrup and food coloring.

But for students here, the message was well received.

"I think a lot of times students think they're invincible, and like, 'Oh, this is never going to happen to me,'" senior Lily Durand said. "But seeing it in front of you, it makes you realize it's very possible."

Senior Adam Abrams says it was an emotional experience.

"I was really grateful for so many people that came and helped volunteer their time," Abrams said.

This mock crash was made possible by a grant from State Farm Insurance. But emergency responders didn't cost a dime -- they all donated their time.

School leaders say some of the money from the grant went toward distracted-driving education, focused specifically on texting and driving.