Fire Departments, MRH Drama Students Act Out DWI Accident

For the second year, High School students witnessed a DWI reenactment, complete with two cars smashed together in a head-on collision, the participation of the Maplewood and Richmond Heights fire departments and MRH drama students covered in stage blood.

chief Terry Merrell said with proms coming up, the point of the exercise is to get the students to think before they drink and drive. He said they did it last year, and will do it every year, until it’s no longer needed.

“We make kids aware what could happen on prom night,” teacher Dave Grossman said. “A lot of times kids don’t have the perspective of what really goes on, and this helps bring out the surreal part of it.”

See more photos at Maplewood-Brentwood Patch Facebook. Like it!

The 11 drama students played out the scene for their peers, who watched from the hill above the parking lot.

Senior Jaszmyn Epps said the drama students/makeup artists did Internet searches on car accidents to see what kinds of wounds would happen. Some students appeared to be very cut and bloody.

MRH Principal Kevin Grawer said the shock factor of the whole scene makes it sink in.

“They get a little uneasy and awkward,” Grawer said. “When I stand next to them the conversations are about anything but what’s going on in front of them, but it’s hitting home, that’s the point.

“We want everybody to have a safe prom.”