Date: Fri 01-May-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: MICHEL

Quick Words:

mock-accident-drunk-driving

Full Text:

Play-Acting Brings Home The Reality Of Drunk Driving

(with cuts)

BY MICHELE HOGAN

"Oh my God. Oh my God," sobbed Kathleen Mooney from the back seat of the

"crashed" car. "Somebody help her! Somebody help her!" she screamed when she

saw that Heather had been "forced through" the windshield and was lying,

unmoving, in a pool of "blood" on the front of the crumpled sport utility car.

Mary Kate Rod arrived on the scene.

Mary Kate, white faced, ran and called 911 while Kathleen continued to scream

and sob, trapped in the car and surrounded by horror.

After the dramatization was over, Kathleen said, "It hit home more than I

thought it would. It wasn't just acting. After, when I wasn't on, I was still

sobbing a bit in the car. I will never drink and drive or let any of my

friends drink and drive. I'll take their keys. I'll drive them."

The Newtown Police arrived on the scene. Officer Phil Hynes called on his

radio "multiple injuries, possibly one DOA at this point."

All the grisly details were meticulously acted out. The sport utility car was

ripped apart, injured victims loaded on stretchers, the "dead" student was put

in a body bag in the hearse. The drunk driver was arrested.

Nancy Farrell, EMT with Newtown Volunteer Ambulance, said, "It doesn't have to

be them. It could be some drunk on the road, and you'd get the same result. My

daughter was in a serious accident. You walk up to something like this, and it

rips your heart out."

Afterwards, Mary Kate said, "I began feeling sick. This felt horrible, and it

was fake. I can't imagine the reality, if it was real."

After the production, Officer Hynes said that "with prom night and graduation

coming up, we just hope that this makes an impression on them."

Mary Tietjen of the Visiting Nurse Association said afterwards that Officer

Hynes did "such a tremendous job in organizing this."

This full re-creation of a serious accident was a cooperative educational

venture with Newtown Police Force, Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire Department,

Newtown Volunteer Ambulance, Visiting Nursing Association of Newtown, Danbury

Hospital, Business Systems Inc, Newtown Paramedics, Lifestar from Hartford

Hospital, Honan Funeral Home, the Newtown High School (especially the drama

club) and representatives from MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving).

After the re-creation, students walked quietly into the auditorium, and sat

down.

Ryan Braun described what it felt like to play the victim. He said, "It's very

scary. You're lying in the car. They come up to you and get you out of the

car. You're thinking, `What if this really happened to me?' I don't want to

imagine what it would be like. The one emotion that played through the whole

thing was `it's scary.' It's a life changing event. My life would have changed

forever. It's a lot to handle. That's it."

After the drama students, victims of drunk drivers spoke.

Cheryl Melatti was walking home from school one day in 1985 when she was hit

by a drunk driver and thrown 30 feet through the air.

She suffered a traumatic brain injury and two broken pelvis bones.

She described her life in the supervised apartment where she now lives. She

said, "I am dependent on everyone for everything. I can't drive."

She said that before the accident, she had a full scholarship to go to Eastern

Connecticut State University. She was state champion in hockey. They told her

she was the sixth smartest in the school. Now, she said, "I can't go to the

store and get a soda until it fits someone else's schedule. Look at me."

Marty Albert lost his son to a drunk driver. Michael Albert was killed at the

age of 26. Eleven years later, Mr Albert's profound sorrow and sense of loss

are still with him and his family.

Michelle Lettieri, executive director of Mother's Against Drunk Drivers for

this region, was hit by a 17-year-old drunk driver. She suffered extensive

injuries and her mother was killed on impact.

The auditorium was quiet. Some students had tears rolling down their cheeks.

Others sat long-faced and serious. A few were sobbing, quietly.

Lisa Dicostanzo, sophomore, said simply, "You know what would happen."

The Visiting Nurse Association of Newtown contracted Art Works Productions of

Sandy Hook to videotape the whole event. Later this spring, they expect to

have the videotape available at the Booth Library.