Mock disaster mirrors real life
One teen dead at scene, another dies in ER
Wanda English Burnett - Editor

Rescue units converged on the South Ripley High School at about 8:30 a.m. Tuesday morning, as they responded to the call for help.

It was not the usual call - this one was planned.

When workers arrived they would find a wrecked car sitting in the parking lot with four students inside. One had been thrown partially out and was on the hood of the vehicle with blood dripping from a gaping wound in her head.

The scene mirrored the real thing and the entire student body of the high school witnessed it as rescue workers began to assess the scene and make calls for additional help. They would need a helicopter to fly one patient to a city hospital, ambulance for transporting another, police to take the driver - who had been drinking alcoholic beverages - and the coroner.

The sobering scene was played out before the students with four of their peers participating in the "accident". Erin Collier was the driver, Kristen Jolly was taken via helicopter, Sarah Collins was dead at the scene, and Kayla Franklin was taken to the "emergency room" where she too died.

A host of emergency workers that included nurses from Margaret Mary Community Hospital, officers from the Ripley County Sheriff's Department, and Versailles Police Department, personnel from Rescue 69 and Ripley County Paramedic Unit, and members of the Versailles Fire Department, were on the scene that played out just like they would respond to any accident.

After the girls were all taken out of the smashed vehicle, that was provided by McBrand Inc., the students went back inside the school where a mock emergency room was set up. Students quietly waited as the "injured" patient was rolled in and emergency room personnel tried to save her life, they were not successful. The girl's distraught mother, played by Tammy Hartman, tore into the room agonizing over her "daughter's" death. As she huddled over the lifeless body, she let her feelings about the "drunk driver" be known. "It should have been her that died, not you!" she cried.

The morning was filled with emotion as students and faculty gathered with a host of community leaders for the event. It was not without purpose. Prosecutor Ric Hertel spoke to the student body telling them there were repercussions for their actions. "If you make bad decisions, bad things are going to happen," he told the group with an impressive Power Point presentation.

Hertel told the students how much their coaches, teachers, and principal cared about them and the decisions they make. He told them these are the best days of their lives - don't spend them in jail or worse - dead.

Principal Bill Snyder thanked the group for their efforts and told the students with prom coming up this weekend and graduation right around the corner, he knows it's the time to party. "No one wants to think about a classmate dying," he paused, "but it happens."

The Ladies Auxiliary of the Versailles Volunteer Fire Department coordinator the event that went off without a hitch. Christy Moore and Rebekah Gunter noted they were pleased with the outcome and all their work is worth it to help teens realize the danger of drinking and driving.

The ladies had been planning the day for several months and put tremendous effort into contacting all the various agencies involved. At the end of the prosecutor's presentation to the students, each of the volunteers were called onto the floor of the gymnasium. When all were standing, they stretched from one end to the other. "These are the people who care about you," Principal Snyder told the students.

Included in the group that put the mock car crash together were: Kayla Elam, Marcia Halcomb, Randi Holcomb, Bobbi Purvis, Dawn Denny, Christy Moore, Ashley Lloyd, Rebekah Gunter, and Traci Bauman, Versailles Fire Ladies Auxiliary; Tracy Moore, Brian Evans, Chuck Gunter, Adam Hunger, Pete Holcomb, Steve Franklin, Daran Denny, Levi Crandell, Tyler Ballmer, Josh Auger, and Dane Holcomb, Versailles Volunteer Fire Department members.

Medical personnel responding included: Mark Woodcock, pilot; Judi Holsinger and Dawn Litz, flight nurses; Ray Werts and Ken Fahr, flight paramedics. The PHI helicopter flew out of Columbus Regional Hospital. Rescue 69 personnel involved were: Jason Smith, Dale Comer, Shanna Lemen, Gary Caudill, Ron Clark and Jon Phillip. Mike Sieverding, paramedic and Columbus Fireman and Jenny Frye, paramedic, helped with the effort. Rosanne Buchanan, Martha Woodlock and Krisha Robbins, all registered nurses from Margaret Mary Community Hospital, took part, along with Janice Hosmer, EMS coordinator for the county.

Deputy Mike Benjamin, who is also the School Resource Officer for the county, and Deputy Tom Grills of the Ripley County Sheriff's Department, along with Versailles Town Marshal David Adams responded. Coroner Eric Karsteter participated as well.

Along with Ripley County Prosecutor Ric Hertel, were Office Manager Carla Miller and Patti Davies, secretary.

The day that began like any other, would have been a complete disaster if it had been the real thing. Principal Snyder encouraged the students to think before they act and have a safe and fun prom.

WANDA ENGLISH BURNETT PHOTO

A bulletin board of Ripley County's Most Wanted appears at the Ripley County Sheriff's Department and the courthouse in Versailles. Chief Deputy Captain David Pippin, left, and Sheriff Bill Davison, are asking the public to help them find these wanted felons.