Accident Simulation Shows Dangers of Texting, Not Wearing Seat Belts

An accident simulation was held Tuesday outside Montclair High School to show students the dangers of texting and not wearing a seat belt while driving.

Nearly 100 students and teachers watched the demonstration in front of the high school gymnasium.

The event was organized by Fire Official John Thomas, Sgt. Stephanie Egnezzo of the Police Traffic Bureau, and Police Department ‎School Resource Officer Kim Nelson-Edwards.

A mock vehicle crash was set up at the crosswalk between the gymnasium and the ball field, using vehicles donated by Roach’s Towing Service.

In the accident scenario, one vehicle traveled northbound at a high rate of speed on Midland Avenue and its driver was sending a text message. The second car, which faced northbound and was stationary, tried to make a U-turn in front of the other car. The vehicles crashed and the second car flipped on its roof and landed on a pedestrian in the middle of the crosswalk.

Montclair High School student Zach Jones acted as the son of the woman driving the second car. The boy immediately called 911. Fellow student Markee Foote portrayed the teenage driver of the first automobile and was in denial about the crash and blamed Zach’s mother for not looking before making the U-turn.

Officer Nelson-Edwards narrated the scenario to the crowd of students and teachers. Jones and Foote were directed away from the accident site when police officers arrived and assessed the situation.

The fire department then arrived on the scene to rescue the victims, beginning with the pedestrian trapped under the flipped vehicle, the more critically injured of the two people. Firefighters stabilized the overturned car with wood blocks, then used air bags to elevate the vehicle high enough to remove the entrapped victim so the Montclair Ambulance Unit rescue workers could place him onto a stretcher, stabilize him and take him to hospital.

The firefighters used the Jaws of Life to cut open the driver’s door on the overturned car to remove the woman trapped inside. Rescue workers then placed her on a stretcher and placed her in the ambulance.

Firefighters cut through the other crash vehicle to reach a trapped occupant inside. The windows and windshield were shattered and the car roof was removed.

"Drills of this type are a necessary exercise for training our students, the public, and even our own people," Egnezzo said. “It also provides a very clear picture of the major, life-threatening damage that can happen in the split-second when someone is driving and texting, as well as driving without a seat belt.”

Fire Official John Thomas emphasized the training benefit of this type of drill.

"It affords public safety officials the opportunity to have time to execute the drill while working in tandem with other officials," Thomas said. "One of the most important objectives is to promote teamwork among the three agencies—the police department, the fire department, and emergency medical services. However, the most important aspect of the exercise was to emphasize to young drivers how quickly lives can change as result of texting while driving and driving without a seat belt."

The extrication exercise was funded by a grant from the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE).