WARNING: Graphic images are shown at the bottom of this story.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WHAS11) — As prom season approaches, a Jeffersontown police officer want to show students the very real dangers of impaired driving.
Officer Brandon Gwynn brought "Ghost Out Week" to Jeffersontown High School nearly ten years ago, using a reenactment of a deadly crash to both shock students and leave a lasting impression on the consequences of distracted driving.
"After knowing folks that have been affected by DUI-related accidents, and the families that have been hurt and traumatized, that's the reason I push forward with this," Gwynn said.
Juniors and seniors watched student volunteers covered in blood show the aftermath of a DUI-related crash. Jeffersontown EMTs, firefighters and police were on hand, showing how difficult it can be to extricate people from their cars.
A chopper landed nearby providing more first-responders, and a mother cried on the ground as first responders reenacted trying to save a teen's life.
"I tried to prepare for this but there's no preparing you can actually do," said JHS senior Kayden Rapson who acted unconscious in the back of one of the cars.
Jeffersontown EMT Jaime Marchegion also participated in the simulation. Her daughter, Kennedy Lawson played one of the victims.
"When we're taking her to the ambulance, that's when you lose it," she explained. "It's like, this is reality. This is my daughter, we're taking her to the hospital, she could not wake up and we could be planning a funeral, so yeah, it hits home."
The scripted reenactment also followed a driver who survived the crash, showing the trauma he goes under as he sits in the back of a police car watching the others die. The images are graphic, but Gwynn said it is important this event shows students just how serious impaired driving is.
"I don't want this to be in my community," Gwynn said. "If I can get one kid to be impacted by this program, I've done my job."
After the reenactment, students went to an assembly where one parent spoke candidly about how drunk-driving changed her life.
During the presentation, a Chaplin read aloud each student's obituary.
"As an 18-year-old, a senior in high school, writing your own obituary, it's awful," said JHS Senior Kennedy Lawson. "You don't ever want to have to experience that with your best friends that you see every day."
The driver of the car is also seen wearing an orange jumpsuit and handcuffed.
The assembly ends with one student refusing to die, and calling her mother to pick her up from a party.
"If I can get one of these kids to be impacted from this program, then I've done my job," said Officer Gwynn.
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