Mock car crash held to impact freshman - KOTA Territory News

About 250 9^th graders learned about real life consequences when it comes to drugs and alcohol, and especially driving at the second Rapid City Freshman Impact day Tuesday.

Sometime you have to see to believe, and the mock car crash Tuesday afternoon in the Central High School Parking lot was a pretty gruesome scene. "These injuries look real," said Rapid City Fire Department Lieutenant Brent Long.

And even though the mock car crash was a skit, it represents an all too real possibility. "In the Rapid City area we do see a number of accidents that are related to distracted driving and the under influence driving and having fatality accidents is not something new for Rapid City," said Long.

The purpose of Freshman impact Day is to teach students, as well as show them, consequences to certain aItions. "It's pretty amazing and it does a lot for these kids they really do have an impact," said Rapid City Area Schools Community Partnership Coordinator Liz Hamburg.

Sometimes having an impact on a teenager isn't the easiest thing to do. "I think the best way to get through to students now–a–days is you just have to be open and honest with them," said Long.

 "These are our youngest drivers" said Hamburg.  "They're all 9^th graders and our track record in the state of South Dakota is not great when it comes to safe driving for teens." But students also got to do other things like see the Jaws of Life and the K–9 Unit at work."Anytime that other people can reinforce what you're trying to teach them at home is huge," said Hamburg.

For the men and women in uniform, Freshman Impact Day is like a practice run. "I tell you what we just love being out doing this kind of stuff," said Long.

From accident, to stretcher, to life flight; freshman got the full effect of what a crash site can be like. All that officials, teachers, and parents can hope for is that the day really did have an impact.