James M. Spinney, Chief of Police
2 Olde North Road
Chelmsford, MA 01824
For Immediate Release
Tuesday, May 19, 2015
Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net
Chelmsford Police Conduct Mock OUI Crash for Students
Simulation is Meant to Teach Young People the Dangers of Drinking and Driving with Realistic Police, Fire, Ambulance, and Coroner Response
CHELMSFORD – The Chelmsford Police Department conducted a simulation of a fatal motor vehicle crash involving a drunk driver, in front of an audience of more than 850 students in the junior and senior classes at Chelmsford High School.
The simulation took place on Friday, May 15 at Chelmsford High School.
During the event, two cars were placed together, as if they had crashed. Student actors portrayed a drunk driver, passengers, and a front-seat passenger who was not wearing his seat-belt and was ejected from the vehicle and killed.
Police, fire, and EMS respond to investigate. The victim is declared deceased at the scene, and his friends react to the scene unfolding around them. The driver is determined to be under the influence of alcohol, several beer bottles are found in the car, and he is arrested.
Finally, a hearse comes to carry away the body of the deceased victim as the students look on.
“Every year, we simulate the very real results of drunk driving for our students to witness, not simply to scare them, but to convince them that the safe decision is always the better one,” said Police Chief James M. Spinney. “If we can convince just one young person not to get behind the wheel after drinking, then this program does its job.”
At the conclusion of the crash, the students returned to the school to listen to Matthew Clarke, of Arlington, share his tragic story of a night of drinking that ended in a crash that took the life of his friend, a passenger in the vehicle Matt was driving. Matt was an 18-year-old senior at Arlington High School in April 2007, when the incident occurred.
The simulation was the result of a partnership of the Chelmsford Police and Fire Departments, Chelmsford Public Schools, Trinity EMS, Greater Lowell Paramedics, Dolan’s Funeral Home, and Christopher’s Towing. Maura Devaney, a CHS health teacher and Christine Lima, a guidance counselor, organize the event every year.
Chelmsford Police Officers Paul Richardson, Dan Sullivan, and Bob Brown participated in this year’s Mock Crash.
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