Drunk driving dramatization at Rusk High School shows students just how much they have to lose
BY GLORIA JENNINGS

A scary, bloody re-enactment of an automobile accident was presented Thursday morning on the Rusk High School parking lot.

The event, "Shattered Dreams," was sponsored by the Rusk Volunteer Fire Department with the assistance from Mothers Against Drunk Drivers and area groups involved when there is a roadside fatality.

Terry Joe Phillips and James Sanchez of the fire department took the program "Shattered Dreams," a multi-day presentation and condensed it into a four-hour event for Rusk High School juniors and seniors. Fire Chief Jack White was emcee for the parking lot presentation, which followed prom night instructions in the school auditorium. The prom is scheduled for April 5.

The concept for the Thursday morning program was to stage a wreck simulation involving someone of school age who was drinking.

The program involved representatives of the Rusk

Fire Department, the police department involving Lt. Stephen Hughes and Sgt. Earl Dominy, East Texas Medical Center Rusk, ETMC Emergency Medical Services ambulances and Air I, Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1 Brenda Dominy, Texas Department of Public Safety and Trooper Justin Stanley, Jimmy Thompson, Stoney Thompson and Keith Clements of Wallace- Thompson Funeral Home, representatives of Mothers Against Drunk Drivers, as well as persons with family members killed in accidents caused by drunk drivers.

PHOTOS: GLORIA JENNINGS An elaborate dramatization at Rusk High k School last Thursday showed students the aftermath of a car crash involving alcohol and driving.

The re-enactment featured Melissa Blankinship, who portrayed a person killed in the wreck; Horrace Lewis, acting as the drunk driver; and Jonathan Phillips and Thomas Lee Parsons, persons wounded in the simulated accident.

Members of the Rusk Fire Department cut the vehicle bodies away to free the victims. The injured were loaded into ambulances by ETMC EMS paramedics. Later, one person was moved to a helicopter and airflighted out.

Those watching saw the EMS helicopter land on an area blocked off on the parking lot. This was a new experience for many of them.

After the injured were removed from the scene, the one believed dead was taken from the vehicle and handled as if still alive. JP Dominy came and pron ounced the victim dead. Repr esenta- tives from the funeral home arrived and loaded her in the hearse.

The believed drunk driver was removed from the ambulance. By this time paramedics had determined him not injured. He was placed in a city patrol car until he took and failed the sobriety test. Then he was taken to the Cherokee County Jail to be booked.

Several students watching the program on the parking lot commented to the Cherokeean Herald.

"This is serious business. A lot of kids are laughing, but it is very serious. We were friends of Jesse Irby, who was killed last year in an automobile accident and Ashley Briley, who died this year. We know how serious it is when you lose a loved one in an accident," said Heather Watson and Lainney Upshaw.

"It really makes you realize how something can happen," said Jordyn McMurray and Lindsey Swearingen.

Following the presentation on the parking lot, students were ushered into the auditorium for a program presented by Mothers Against Drunk Drivers. Kim Higghins, district director, and a staff member working with family of persons killed in accidents by drunk drivers, also spoke.

Tena Loper, who lost a sixyear old son in an accident involving a drunk driver in Tyler, spoke. She described her situation and what was involved during the child's death and afterwards.

"Mrs. Loper really got the attention of the young men in the audience. They were not laughing when they heard Mrs. Loper, they were sitting on the edge of their seats," Chief White said.

Also speaking at the program was a man from Tyler who served six years in prison. A person died in a wreck caused from his driving while intoxicated.

Locally, Naomi Jennings of Gallatin spoke. Her 15-yearold daughter, Holly Jennings, was killed in a 2000 accident involving alcohol.

"Our records show that approximately 13 teenagers are killed annually in Cherokee County. The deaths are not only caused by drinking, but from speeding, talking on the cell phone or making text message calls," Trooper Stanley said.

A tape was shown of Horrace Lewis taken Wednesday, the day before the simulation, at the Cherokee County Jail. He was filmed dressed in jail clothing, booked and jailed. He portrayed a person arrested in connection with the death of Ms. Blankinship.

A film was shown of Ms. Blankinship's funeral, the casket and flowers donated by Flowers 'n Things in Rusk.

Rusk High School principal Ricky Hassell said, "I thought the program was good and it really touched the hearts of our kids. Hopefully it will cause them to make better choices. I had to cry when Mrs. Loper spoke. If I had been by myself I would have boo-hoo'ed She later told me that Rusk was the first place she had spoken when the kids came by and hugged her. Every speaker was good and of course Mrs. Jennings is hometown and really made an impact on the students. I heard a lot of favorable comments from the teachers and it seemed to really touch the kids."

"I thought the program was great and very well organized. I appreciate all the local entities and manpower. I hope it will have an impact on our students and the decision they make when they get into a vehicle," said RISD Superintendent Dr. Jim Largent.

This was the first program presented at Rusk High School in a number of years. Fireman Phillips said he was in elementary school when the program was given on the high school parking lot.