Mock crash exercise will sound alarming

High school students tomorrow may pretend to die or be injured in a mock car crash planned for Thursday morning in an exercise designed to resemble the real tragedy.

That will include "toning out" police and ambulance units to respond to the event at the Nespelem Community Center, so don't panic if you hear those genuine-sounding calls.

The purpose is to portray to students just what can happen in the seconds and minutes after someone makes a mistake: distracted driving, driving intoxicated, not wearing a seatbelt.

They'll see their friends "die" or be taken off in an ambulance, or a police car - in handcuffs.

The event happens a week before the annual spring "prom."

A soundtrack, custom made by participating students for the event, will lead up to an unveiling of the scene as it unfolds as they watch.

Some of the adults volunteering to organize the event participated in an earlier one involving Lake Roosevelt High School. It was last done in 2017.

Several of them attended the last meeting of the Grand Coulee Dam School District Board of Directors to brief them on what to expect.

"It was really, really emotional," recalled school Director Deidre Ellsworth.

They'll have "debriefers" on hand afterward to add context and help anyone who may be "triggered" by the event.

"For certain people within the community," noted Buffy Nicholson, "death is a very large part of our life." Some students may opt out of attending it, she said.

But it will be open to all students in grades nine through 12. They'll be bused to the site.

In the afternoon, those students portraying the casualties will sit in class in silence, shrouded or wearing their injuries on display, or maybe an orange jumpsuit.

"I hope all the kids are going to appreciate it and think before they drink and get behind the wheel," Buffy Nicholson said.