Pella Christian students gathered to watch a mock crash caused by drunk driving unfold in front of them Tuesday morning.

As part of the exercise, members of Pella Ambulance, Pella Fire, Pella Police, and Garden Chapel Funeral Home all participated in a drill that simulated a fatal car crash. Student actors were impacted on both sides of the accident, with one actor portraying a first-time drinker getting behind the wheel and both vehicles filled with fellow students who were all injured or killed. A recording played during the event, with memories of those impacted, as well as the sounds of EMTs and nurses attempting to save a patient. Pella Firefighters and Ambulance personnel also used extrication equipment to remove a subject from a damaged car.

Don DeDock with Pella Ambulance tells KNIA/KRLS News the purpose of the simulation wasn’t to scare students, but to instead show them what actually happens at a scene and to educate them about the consequences of making certain choices.

Seniors Hayden Vroom and Ben Diehl were selected to be “killed” in the crash, and a funeral was held after the accident scene was cleared, with friends and the student actors sharing about how the experience impacted them. The families of those students were also in attendance.