By Jeremy D. Wells
Carter County Times
As he prepared for the pre-prom assembly of West Carter students, Carter County Schools police chief RD Porter said that students noticed when they brought in a wrecked car the evening before. He said he received calls about a wreck at the high school, as did dispatch – who were aware of the impending prom safety event.
And, if they hadn’t noticed it before, he said, they did when they came in that morning. They also noticed the coffin in the lobby and, as they looked inside, their own reflection staring back at them.
The car and coffin were primers for what came later that morning – a presentation in the gym for juniors and seniors who might be attending prom on the dangers of drinking and driving; not just for themselves, but for others.
The presentation, a compliment to the mock accidents that are conducted every other year so that students have an opportunity to experience both before graduation, included video testimonials from the victims and families of sober drivers involved in accidents with drunk drivers. It also included the experiences of drunk drivers, some behind bars, who have had to live with the consequences of their actions. These consequences included not only incarceration, but living with the knowledge of what they had caused.
Students heard the 911 calls of anguished drivers, and interspersed with the videos and audio were dramatic readings from students explaining the outcomes of different accident scenarios.
But one of the most powerful moments of the day came when Hannah King, sister of Brent King, gave a tearful plea for her friends and classmates to avoid drinking and driving. King shared the pain that the loss of her brother had brought to her and her family while urging her classmates to make responsible choices.
WCHS English teacher Jared Salyers then narrated the obituaries of students as “Death” snuffed each of their candles, culminating with the final student who, rather than getting into a car with folks who had been drinking, cheated “Death” when he called his parents for a ride.
Students were also given information on after prom events, and the Phoenix Project shared information on the availability and use of Narcan and drug testing strips, so that anyone who chose to party could do so in a safer manner.
As he closed the event, which was similar to one conducted at East Carter the previous week, Porter emphasized to students that their safety was the main priority of parents and law enforcement on prom night. Porter gave a standing offer to pick up any students who needed a ride if they or their ride had been partying and weren’t safe to drive on their own. Any student who needed his assistance was free to call him at any hour, he told them.
“No jail,” Porter said. “No judgement. I just want to see your face in the hall on Monday morning.”
Contact the writer at editor@cartercountytimes.com
