Beth-Center High School to stage mock traffic accident, trial
Because fatal accidents occur every day as a result of driving under the influence of alcohol, the Youth Traffic Safety Council at Bethlehem-Center High School will sponsor a mock accident and trial on Friday, with the hope of showing the students why they should make the right decision about drunken driving. Frank Pryor, who teaches driver’s education at the high school, is organizing the event, which he said has “been a learning experience” for him because it is the first time he has participated in such an event.
“It is very detailed,” said Pryor, adding that the state police, East Bethlehem Township police, firefighters, ambulances and an emergency helicopter from Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh will all participate.
“Four of our students will be involved with a head-on collision with the school nurse,” said Pryor, describing the staged scenario. “This will happen because the students are intoxicated and one student will lose his life.”
The mock accident will occur at 9 a.m., and at 1 p.m., the students will witness a mock trial for the student “charged” in the accident.
“Everything that occurs because of the accident will play out, and the student will be sentenced for manslaughter,” said Pryor. “Hopefully, some of this will touch base, and it will be embedded into someone’s brain that it’s not the right thing to do.”
Pryor said that someone will narrate at the event, and a student will film the accident and trial.
He said that while there have been car accidents involving the school’s students in the past, no one ever has been severely injured.
“We’ve been very fortunate,” said Pryor. “We hope that by watching this, the kids will understand the seriousness of it.”