This week I went through one
of the weirdest experiences. I died.
You maybe like well obviously she didn’t if she is writing this, and in that
you would be correct. I was an actor in the Mock Crash. It is a HUGE docudrama
put on by The Ohio State University Extension and our Youth Safety Council.
— The scene was so realistic
there were screams of horror.–
Denise Eckert, a senior at
Mansfield
Christian
High
School dressed in a bloody prom dress, died
following a three-vehicle accident Tuesday during the annual mock crash
docudrama at the Richland County Fairgrounds.
Troopers from the
Mansfield
post of the Ohio Highway Patrol restrained the father of the “dead”
girl as he shouted, “You killed my daughter!” at the boy who had been
driving the car.
Other troopers handcuffed a pair of prom-goers and ushered them into a waiting
cruiser.
It was all make-believe, but the message was deadly serious as 1,500 juniors
and seniors from 10 county high schools watched in riveted silence. The message
for prom and graduation season, sponsored by the
Richland
County
4-H Youth Safety Council, was direct: Drive carefully, wear seatbelts and never
drink before getting behind the wheel.
Tuesday’s scenario involved kids in two vehicles drag racing on a highway after
the prom that met up with a car full of drunk after prom partiers.
“One of the cars is left of center and it comes upon a pickup truck that
involves several students who have been drinking. These kids are on their way
to a post-prom party,” said Judy Villard, Ohio State University Extension
educator.
“The drunk car ends up going left of center, and they do have a collision
with the other vehicle that is traveling at a high rate of speed, and we have a
horrible crash.”
The goal of the docudrama, which included a mock funeral, is to focus students’
attention on safety, Villard said.
“We have not had a fatality involving kids on their way to prom or
graduation since this program started back in 1990. We think that’s a real
plus,” she said. “Students see a program like this and it makes them
think a lot about what they’re doing as they’re heading to their prom or
graduation day.”
Richland County Juvenile Court Judge Ron Spon spoke to students filling the
grandstands.
“What I consider the greatest risk to young people today, it is not crime.
It is not disease. What it really is driving a motor vehicle,” Spon said.
“Never, ever drink and drive. You shouldn’t be drinking anyhow. Not much
good comes from alcohol. All you need to do is live long enough and you’ll
realize that,” he said. “Never drink and drive. Always wear your
seatbelt.”
Sgt. Toby Smith of the patrol’s
Mansfield
post reminded students they have an opportunity to choose how to spend the rest
of their lives.
“If you choose to drink and drive, folks, you’ll pay a price. … Don’t
fall to peer pressure, folks,” Smith said. “Go out and have fun at
your prom. Have fun … but make those wise choices.”
Tuesday’s program was witnessed by students from
Shelby,
Plymouth,
Ontario,
Lexington, Mansfield Christian, St. Peter’s,
Mansfield Senior,
Madison,
Clear Fork and Lucas high schools.
–
Mansfield
NewJournal
Video coverage showing me being covered with a sheet and being put in a hearse.
http://media.wmfd.com:8000/wmfdnews/042407mockrash.wmv
It was one of the weirdest experiences. My life and death
portrayed in front of so many. The pics of me really are too graphic. My brains
were coming out and blood pouring down my face. Pronounced dead by a fireman,
then the corner… body put in a hearse. 1500 kids walked by my pictures, my memories,
my dreams, my hopes my casket… hearing my eulogy. I must say I was almost mad
when I was in the back of the hearse and realized that everyone else who rides
like that gets to at that point be in front of the one and only living
God. Yet, in the funeral and speakers and my poem I stressed what I
would be missing out on. I would not be able to graduate, I would not be
able to be a camp counselor for Haven (mentally handicapped adults) or for Sr.
and Jr. High campers, I wouldn’t get to go to
Orlando
with my Youth group for LIFE this summer… but mostly I wouldn’t be able to go
to
Africa. I wonder… IF I wasn’t going
to
Africa would there be someone who isn’t
loved that I would have loved? Would there be kids that don’t get
held? Would there be people not in Heaven because no one told them?
Huge things when you put it that way.
So, I guess I am very glad to be alive. I am pumped for
Africa!
and I am alive.
Philippians 1
:20-24
“For I
fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to
be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will
bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die.
For to me, living means living for
Christ, and dying is even better.
But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for
Christ. So I really don’t know which is better.
I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be
far better for me.
But for your sakes, it
is better that I continue to live.”
