May 24, 2002 By Christine Haines 3 min read

BROWNSVILLE – Most of the pre-prom message for Brownsville Area High School seniors Thursday dealt with practical matters regarding the prom – where to park, arrangements for the Grand March, and what time the Gateway Clipper will be leaving the Brownsville Wharf. But there was also a somber side to the program, urging the students to think before doing something that could not only ruin their lives, but also possibly end them.

Class sponsor Dianna Michael told the students that she didn’t hit the message to not drink and drive hard in her presentation because she hoped that by now, she wouldn’t have to, but she told the students that she also knows that isn’t always the case.

“I heard people talking about the beer and the wood they would need for a party in the (Hiller) patch after the prom,” Michael said.

She urged the students to reconsider their plans, if they were planning to go drinking after the prom. There are 139 students in the senior class, with 168 students and guests attending the prom tonight.

“Each and every one of you is an important person. Each of you has a destiny, though we may not know what it is at this point. I will be praying that each and every one of you will use the brain that you have,” Michael told the seniors.

“We have been very, very lucky in the past few years. We haven’t had any deaths from drinking and driving and I don’t want that to happen to any of you.”

Michael then read the poem “Death of an Innocent,” written from the perspective of a teen who carried out the promise to not drink and drive, but was killed by another young driver who did drink. Students were then dismissed to an outdoor program sponsored by Students Against Driving Drunk (SADD) simulating a drunk driving accident in which one student was killed and another seriously injured.

The apparently intoxicated driver, portrayed by Adam Nicholls, was uninjured in the crash. Police took him into custody.

“He would be searched, handcuffed, taken to the hospital for a blood-alcohol test, then taken before the magistrate and charged with manslaughter and homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence. He’d probably be looking at 40 years in prison,” said Brownsville Police Capt. Tom Wardman.

The injured student was cut from the wrecked vehicle by firefighters, then placed on a stretcher before being flown from the scene by STAT MedEvac helicopter. The dead student was placed on the ground under a white sheet, simulated blood covering his face.

Senior Jeff Pelehac said the exercise has made him think about his post-prom activities.

“It shows you how slow it all is and how long you’d have to wait for help,” Pelehac said.

Brian Gildea said he had already decided against any activities involving alcohol.

“I’ve been in accidents. Accidents are terrible. I ain’t drinking tomorrow, not at all,” Gildea said.