Two teens were 'severely injured' and one teen is 'facing criminal charges' after a car wreck in front of the high school on Tuesday morning.
"Help me. Help me. Someone please help us. My friends are hurt really bad," said the driver, who was wandering a daze around the wreck, suffering from a head wound.
At least that was the scenario.
A mock car wreck designed to teach real-life lessons was held in front of Alberni District Secondary School.
The exercise involved four teens: one passenger not wearing a seat belt who was catapulted through the windshield; a rear passenger suffering from head and neck injuries who had to be extracted; a driver who was under the influence of alcohol; and a male who was either thrown from the car or run over.
The mockup was made all the more real as police, fire and ambulance crews responded to the wreck as though it were real, even cutting through the wreck to extract the rear passenger.
"This is a learning opportunity for students," ADSS principal Mike Ruttan said. "We want to drive home the point to Grade 12's: don't drink and drive."
The message was targeted at Grade 12's specifically as the unofficial Grad Drunk approached. The decades-old event is traditionally held on the second Wednesday of May each year, and marks Grade 12 graduation. The event is usually held at a remote location into the night and involves alcohol.
The mock wreck is the second such lesson that the school has put on. Last week, Grade 12 students listened to guest speaker Kevin Brooks, 28, who was rendered a paraplegic after a car accident when he was in high school. The accident also killed a friend who was with him.
The wreck scenario is like looking into a crystal ball, RCMP Const. Shelly Schedewitz said. "Making a bad decision to drink and drive has consequences," Schedewitz said. "It can impact their life, their health, and even their futures."