Staged crash is sobering lesson at Princeton High School

Students look on in horror at prom-dressed "victim"

By: Hilary Parker
   After the last ambulances left the scene of the accident, after the bloody body was removed from the hood of the car and loaded into the hearse, Princeton High School Principal Gary Snyder read Catherine Marchetta’s obituary to the silent crowd gathered in front of the two wrecked cars on Walnut Avenue.
   "Students often get bombarded with statistics and with people giving them advice. We’re hoping that with showing them, they’ll see the consequence of their actions firsthand," said Greg Paulson, chief of the Princeton First Aid and Rescue Squad, who organized the presentation of an elaborate and realistic drunk-driving crash rescue simulation to PHS juniors and seniors Wednesday morning.
   The event was initiated by the Princeton Alcohol and Drug Alliance — under the leadership of event co-chairs Wendy Jolley and Monica Vildostegui — and coordinated with Chief Paulson and PFARS in collaboration with the Princeton Fire Department, Princeton Borough and Township police departments, Princeton Regional School District, Larini’s, Mather-Hodge Funeral Home and Corner House.
   "We present this crash re-enactment in hopes that it never plays out in reality in our community," Chief Paulson told the crowd as the event began and blue tarps were pulled from the wrecked cars, revealing bloody bodies, shattered windshields and tangled metal. Catherine Marchetta, in a bloody white prom gown, lay across one of the hoods.
   "It was really disturbing to think that this really could happen and this really does happen," said Catherine after the event. "I hope this re-enactment will help people make good decisions."
   If the deathly silence that fell over the crowd as the simulation began — and continued throughout — is any indication, it will.
   Students listened attentively as Chief Paulson explained the dispatch codes and tones as emergency responders made their way to the scene. The police arrived first, as they would in a real accident, he said, followed shortly by PFARS and the fire departments. If the patient on the hood had no pulse, her body would stay there as the rescue workers attended to the living, he said.
   Student actors playing roles of relatively unharmed victims were led away from the cars as 20 members of PFARS, eight members of the fire department and four police officers demonstrated the complete process of rescuing the students portraying more seriously injured victims.
   In demonstrating a full-scale vehicular extraction, rescue workers went to work using the Jaws of Life to remove the roof and driver’s side of one car, fire department members close at hand with pointed hose in case of fire. At the same time, a student actor in another car was placed onto a bright yellow backboard and loaded into the ambulance.
   At one point, a white sheet was placed over Ms. Marchetta where she lay on the hood of the car.
   Throughout the entire simulation, the students’ eyes were fixed on the scene, many wet with tears. Some clung to their friends’ hands, wrists encircled with the white "Always Safe and Sober" wristbands the Princeton Alcohol and Drug Alliance gave to every student.
   Two students watching the simulation were overcome with emotion and "passed out," according to Chief Paulson. They were transported to the hospital for medical attention.
   Board of Education member Adam Hawes commented on the silence of the student body throughout the event. "That punctuates the magnitude of the event," he said.
   The students were not the only ones affected by the experience. "It moved me," said Mr. Snyder after the simulation. "It was very emotional."
   Given the difficult nature of the simulation, juniors and seniors met with police and fire department members, student actors and counselors from the school and Corner House after the event for a debriefing session to answer questions and provide support.
   Yesterday, the juniors and seniors received letters from students in John Witherspoon Middle School, written in an effort organized by Ms. Jolley. "They talk to them about drinking and driving," Ms. Jolley said of the letters, "They say extremely moving things. It’s really going to send a strong message — the younger kids are watching."
   Both the re-enactment and the letter delivery were presented this week with an eye toward preventing any drinking and driving associated with tonight’s prom and the upcoming graduation season. An alcohol- and drug-free party, organized by the PTO, will be held after the prom from 12:30 to 3 a.m. in the high school gymnasium for all juniors, seniors and their dates.