Fatal DUI crash simulation shows Louisville students the dangers of drinking and driving

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A mock fatal drunk driving crash unfolded Wednesday at Mercy Academy, sending a shockwave through local high school students.

While the scene may have seemed all too real, it was part of a powerful demonstration aimed at teaching the dangers of drinking and driving.

The scene and incident were simulated but the message was very real.

The mock crash included a response from real police officers and emergency medical personnel. As the scene took place, Fern Creek Fire and EMS arrived to provide medical aid.

The sound of a mother's anguished screams echoed as first responders worked to save the life of one of the drivers.

"My baby! My baby!" the woman said.

The simulated crash, complete with fake blood and emergency sirens, took a somber turn when the deputy coroner confirmed the death of one driver. Meanwhile, the other driver was handcuffed, arrested for DUI, and taken to jail.

The students involved in the demonstration were all Mercy Academy seniors, who played the roles of both the victims and the offenders.

"To see our classmates be pulled out of a car and put into a body bag is definitely gonna stay with me for a while," senior Katelyn Mantell said.

The entire scene, from the body bag to the fake blood and screaming mother, was designed to leave an indelible mark on students' minds.

"To hear someone screaming like my daughter … it was shocking," Mantell said.

Dr. Cynthia Smith-Ough, Mercy Academy's principal, emphasized the importance of this hands-on demonstration.

"It's about making a meaningful impact," she said. "A lot of times we just say words to students, but it's about seeing the real-life consequences of actions like drinking and driving."

For Theresa Martinez, the demonstration hit close to home. In April 2012, her daughter, Ashley, was struck and killed by a drunk driver on Hurstbourne Parkway. Martinez, who witnessed the mock crash, shared her painful story with students afterward.

"To see the coroner come and have to put Ashley in a body bag ... It's just hard to imagine that that’s what had to happen to her," she said.

Martinez hopes her story will serve as a cautionary tale, urging students and parents to understand the severe impact of drunk driving on families.

"I hope this message resonates with students and parents, so they realize the lasting consequences that drinking and driving can have," she said.

After the demonstration, students like Katelyn Mantell reflected on the powerful lesson.

"You can't not listen to that and just be moved. It makes you really think," she said.

As prom season approaches, this stark reminder aims to ensure that a scenario like the one witnessed on Wednesday doesn't become a tragic reality.

For local high schoolers, it was a shocking dose of reality, one that will hopefully stay with them long after the mock crash is over.

"It's an eye opener for these young ladies. There were some that were crying. There were some that came up, hugged Ms. Martinez, hugged me," said Lt. Craig Browning with LMPD's Traffic Unit. "They said thank you for coming out here. That really brought it home. So if we can get the message across and save a life, that's what we're trying to do."

The goal: to show students the devastating consequences of drinking and driving and to reinforce the message: Don’t drink and drive. It's a lesson that can't be repeated enough.