Mock Crash Offers Rockville High School Students A Dose Of 'Reality' For Prom, Grad Season

VERNON, CT — What was a quiet beginning to the daily procession up Loveland Hill Road to begin Thursday classes at Rockville High School quickly took a turn that led to carnage, destruction and, as Principal Jason Magao put it, a dose of "reality."

It was the annal mock crash at RHS just in time for prom and graduation season. The combined RHDS Junior-Senior Prom is slated for Saturday. and graduation is less than a month away.

"This seems very real ... my heart of pounding," said RHS junior Kylie Grey, who was "waiting" for a ride and wound up running to the scene of a head-on crash.

The scenario involved drinking and "smoking" on the part of one driver and the result of the crash was one young person dead and several injured.

Police came screaming down Loveland Hill and immediately went to the aid of those involved — and also to the "seemingly intoxicated" driver to administer field sobriety tests. Vernon Police Chief Marc Petruzzi was quick to point out that the driver would have been taken to an area hospital to be examined and substance-tested, but organizers wanted to show the juniors and seniors who watched the event to understand the seriousness of impaired driving.

Normally, a shroud would be set up to protect the privacy of a deceased driver at the scene and he or she would go directly to the Chief Medical Examiner's facilities. But again, emphasizing the seriousness of the crash, the person was put onto the pavement under a sheet, and then taken away to a hearse on a stretcher in a bag.

At first, spectators murdered to themselves and others, but, as the scene progressed, a hushed silence prevailed on the hillside. A "safe zone" was available to those who needed a break.

Some have argued in the past that the presentation is way too graphic. Magao would have none of that.

"This is reality," he said. "There is too much of this, so if we can highlight how serious this is, the kids will learn."

Here are some scenes from the mock crash: