SR students feel impact of crash

WANDA ENGLISH BURNETT PHOTOS Pictured above rescue workers frantically work trying to save the life of a young girl to no avail. The car crashed into the pole shows the impact the crash victims sustained. Pictured below, the driver faces other consequences as she answers to Versailles Marshal Joe Mann with Sheriff Tom Grills looking on. The students at South Ripley were witnessing a "mock" car crash just before prom to remind them to make good decisions.

It's all about decisions

Wanda English Burnett, Editor

Although students at South Ripley High School knew the car crash was staged, the impact of the scene was still shocking last Friday, April 18, as it unfolded on the front lawn of the school on Benham Road, Versailles.

The scenario was a quartet of girls who with the decision to either drink and drive or ride with someone who did, changed their lives forever. Students would also realize how their decisions not only affect them, but their families and friends.

After high school Principal Bob Meyer announced there had been an accident in front of the school, teachers accompanied students to witness emergency response to the scene.

A car was smashed head on into a utility pole, leaving one student thrown onto the roadway - the others trapped inside. Sponsored by South Ripley’s SADD chapter, Advisor Melanie Evans read from a script telling the students that an 18-year-old was the driver, who had been drinking, but luckily was wearing her seatbelt. The air bag and seatbelt had allowed her to escape with a “few bumps and bruises.”

She, along with others, now watched as her friend was not so lucky. A passenger, who had not been drinking, did not have a seatbelt on, was thrown out the side window upon impact. She sustained massive injuries that left her dying on the roadway.

Another passenger, wearing a seatbelt improperly, also sustained massive trauma, with one chance to live, the quick maneuvers of an aircraft that is dependent on availability and perfect weather conditions.

The final passenger has been drinking like the driver and not wearing her seatbelt. Her chest is crushed with broken ribs puncturing a lung, leaving her gasping for breath.

The students then see how dependent a rural community is on volunteerism. A passerby calls 911 where a dispatcher’s expertise is crucial. Dispatchers are the unnamed heroes in these situations. Many variables determine how quickly help is administered. Are the rescue workers on another call? How close are police? Is the weather conducive to high speed on the part of rescue personnel? Can the helicopter maneuver a foggy, drizzling rain?

Members from the Versailles Volunteer Fire Department First Response and Extrication team are on the scene within minutes, along with officers from the Ripley County Sheriff’s Office and Versailles town police. Rescue 69 and Ripley County Medics all work simultaneously in a professional manner to save lives if possible.

PHI medical helicopter is flown in with Ripley County EMS Director Scott Huffman on board. This was a first for him as he participated in a new flight program through PHI allowing outside paramedics to ride a shift with the air crew. PHI has two stations nearby allowing them an eight minute response time from their station in North Vernon and 18 minutes from their newest location in Williamstown, Kentucky. Again, their response is dependent on availability and weather conditions.

A flurry of activity unfolds as medical personnel assess the scene and realize they have three critical patients. One is transported by ambulance, one goes in the waiting chopper and one they cannot save.
The mood is somber as firefighters help unfold a white sheet and place it over the body on the side of the road. Not just a body, but that of a loved classmate and friend, someone’s child.

Nothing can change that decision. The finality is felt as Ripley County Coroner Ron Buchanan rolls onto the scene to take the body. Respectfully, she is loaded onto a cot with onlookers silently watching.

While medical rescue workers deal with the patients, police deal with the driver. Although she is uninjured, she has not escaped the tragedy unscathed. She is handcuffed and placed in a squad car.
But, it’s not over. The student body moves inside the school to hear more.

Ripley County Prosecutor Ric Hertel stood before the students with these words, “I grew up around here - I know what happens on the weekends.” He talked about the legal ramifications of their decisions telling them, “there are consequences.” He assured the students he was “much nicer here than when you see me in the courtroom.” Hertel asked the students to “make the right decisions.”
One simple statement from CCEMT-P Matt Quinn with Dove Flight summed it up, “It’s not worth it.” He and other flight members, Heath Perkins, Mya Daily and pilot Justin Haber, addressed the students saying they see some horrific scenes.

It took a host of people coming together to put the event on, but each of them would much rather do a “mock” crash than a real one. “The hope of South Ripley SADD is that each one of you will be impacted to be cautious when making decisions in the future,” noted Evans. She was grateful to all those involved, from the students in the crash - Sally Adams, Courtney Walker, Ashley Hollandsworth and Myranda Cole, to all those who responded to the scene from the community. Danny Meisberger Wrecker Service delivered the car that had been donated by Schneider’s Scrap Metal, Osgood. Also helping organize the event was the Versailles Volunteer Fire Ladies Auxiliary.

“Thank you to our emergency services personnel for their hard work...their dedication to our community whenever they are called to duty,” Evans concluded.