Matawan Students Witness Consequences of Driving Under the Influence

The sounds of sirens pierced the air as police and EMS rushed to the scene of a two vehicle accident with several injuries.

The 18-year-old driver, who suffered no injuries, is questioned by a police officer and admits to driving home after drinking at a graduation party.

While the officer conducts a field sobriety test, EMS pull teenagers from the totaled cars. Two were killed on impact, and are covered by a white sheet. Two are unresponsive and are quickly backboarded, placed on a stretcher, and taken to a hospital.

The driver is placed under arrest.

In just seconds, five lives were changed forever.

Luckily, this was only a "Rude Awakening" simulation planned by the Aberdeen Police Department and members of Students Against Destructive Decisions (S.A.D.D.), executed with the assistance of the Aberdeen Fire Department, South Aberdeen EMS, and Aberdeen Township First Aid.

With prom and graduation around the corner, the simulation is just one aspect of the school's approach to preventing students from driving under the influence.

"It's a three-pronged approach so students can understand the dangers," said Marie Hitchman, student assistant coordinator at Matawan Regional High School.

In addition to the simulation, the school also held an awareness night for parents. A triage nurse will talk to seniors on June 5 about what she has seen in the emergency room after a DWI accident.

The student actors, all members of S.A.D.D., included Matthew Tomasello as the drunk driver, Alicia Patel as Tomasello's critically injured passenger, Angellica Taylor as the dead driver of the second vehicle, Derek Leckner as Taylor's dead passenger, and Ashley Mendoza as Taylor's critically injured passenger.