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Mock crash a reality check for South Putnam students
A head-on collision in the South Putnam Middle-High School parking lot led to one death and a patient being airlifted. Two others were arrested, one for operating while intoxicated and the other for texting while driving.
But with this being a mock crash, South Putnam students got a sense of reality about real-world consequences of distracted driving and intoxication Tuesday afternoon.
In collaboration with Sgt. Cory Robinson and Zach Bowers, the agencies which participated included the Indiana State Police, Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, as well as Putnam County EMS and the Cloverdale Township, Reelsville, Jefferson Township and Fillmore volunteer fire departments. They also included the Putnam County Coroner’s Office and Ascension St. Vincent StatFlight.
With South Putnam drama students playing those involved, ISP troopers Colton Maynor and Matthew Rea handled the OWI arrest, while PSCO corporals Scott Ducker and Brian Helmer saw to the texting arrest. Meanwhile, firefighters and EMS personnel performed an extrication and patient care. Deputy Coroner Todd Zeiner then conducted an investigation before the deceased was loaded into a van.
After the demonstration concluded, students heard remarks from Putnam County Prosecutor Tim Bookwalter about what occurs after such incidents. He stated matter-of-factly how, in spite of the sadness and shock, criminal charges are nonetheless filed.
Bookwalter referenced the local automobile-related deaths of Nikki Wehrheim, Ricky Johnson, Brandee Siples, Megan Witty and Abigail Scheibelhut. These resonated with South Putnam’s prom happening this Saturday in Hendricks County.
“Who doesn’t get over these things are your parents,” Bookwalter said. “I’ve dealt with a lot of parents, and years later, they never get over it. It’s a wound that does not heal.”
He noted that OWIs involve illegal drugs and marijuana apart from alcohol and prescriptions. He furthered cautioned that people lose inhibition when they drink an excessive amount. In essence, “You will just do stupid (stuff),” he said.
The penalty for an OWI incident in Indiana ranges from 2-12 years, while leaving the scene of an incident with death actually carries a greater range of 3-16 years.
“What we all here today want you guys to do is have a good time at your prom,” Bookwalter concluded for his part. “Just be safe.”
Putnam County EMS Chief Kelly Russ then drove the point from her own experiences with such tragedies. When she was around the students’ ages, her boyfriend was killed in an crash she was also involved in. She then lost many friends in other incidents.
“(Parents) would rather get a phone call saying, ‘Mom, I screwed up. Dad, I screwed up. I’m too drunk, please come get me,’” Russ appealed to the students. This, she said, is rather than a call from the coroner saying their child is dead.
Russ acknowledged that students will make mistakes when it comes to being under the influence. In the end, she echoed Bookwalter’s want for them to be safe, but to also have fun this weekend.