4 • The Beacon April 10, 2025
Mock crash reminds RVHS students to make wise choices
By Josie Sellers Beacon Editor
The crash was fake, but the details of the scene were as realistic as possible, right down to the screams of the victims.
River View TLC hosted a mock crash April 3 in the high school parking lot with the help of local emergency personnel and MedFlight.
“ I wanted to do a mock crash to raise awareness about the dangers of reckless driving, like drinking and driving and distracted driving,” said JoAnn Thompson, a junior in TLC.“ I think it will be a reminder of the potential consequences that the decisions you make can lead to and help to encourage safer decisions.”
Thompson had her stepdad Dave Stone, who is with the Coshocton County Sheriff’ s Office and Walhonding Valley Fire, help set up the mock crash. Two already smashed-up cars were brought in and placed in the parking lot to look like they had hit head on. Walhonding Valley Fire was there to extract the crash“ victims.” Coshocton County EMS and MedFlight came in to provide medical care, and a Coshocton County Sheriff’ s Office deputy gave one of the drivers a sobriety test.
“ I would hate to see anything serious or fatal happen to anyone,” said Cael Summers, an RVHS senior who played the role of the drunk driver in the crash.
Once the students were gathered in the parking lot, Stone encouraged them to pay attention to what was about to happen.
“ What we are depicting here, many of times we have been on calls for,” he said.
Justin Landerman, school resource officer, set the scene for the students.
“ Someone pulled out of Lake Park Pavilion after prom a little too fast and headed down 83 after some partying in the parking lot,” Landerman said.
He explained a deputy would be first on the scene, and then one showed up with lights and sirens going. Soon the fire firefighters jumped into action. Glass was
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We are hoping that it’ s something that will stick with them forever and will help them to make safe decisions for not only themselves, but those around them.”
Stephanie Snyder
broken, car doors were taken off and victims were looked over by EMS. Fake blood could be seen on the victims, and smoke and screams for help filled the air.
“ One decision can affect the rest of your life or someone
River View TLC hosted a mock crash April 3 in the high school parking lot. else’ s,” Thompson said.“ There is a consequence to your decision.”
One student left the scene in handcuffs, one by MedFlight, others by EMS, and one didn’ t get to leave at all.
“ I see a lot of you smiling,” Chief Mike Snyder from Walhonding Valley Fire said.“ I hope you notice I’ m not. You are all young adults here. What you are seeing shouldn’ t happen. My first fatality was in 1986. Three young people, students from here, died. That still bothers me. I hope we got our point across.”
After the mock crash was complete, Landerman held a discussion with students in the high school auditorium.
“ We are hoping this will make our kids stop and think before making a destructive decision,” said Stephanie Snyder, who leads the River View TLC program.“ We are hoping that it’ s something that will stick with them forever and will help them to make safe decisions for not only themselves, but those around them.”
Josie Sellers
MedFlight came in for a landing while River View High School students watched the mock crash scene.
Josie Sellers
Local emergency professionals and MedFlight crew members rush a victim from the mock crash to a waiting helicopter.
Josie Sellers