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Date: 5/23/2022
PALMER – Prior to prom weekend, Palmer High School assembled a mock car accident on May 16 to warn students about the dangers of drinking and driving.
The Palmer Police, Fire Department, and Ambulance responded to the mock car crash, along with UMass Memorial Lifeflight and a hearse.
Five students played victims in the mock accident. Three students are seniors at Palmer High School, including Noel Melnick, Anthony Stahelski and Brady Ukrainets. The other two students are juniors at Pathfinder, Roman Barraco and Laura Hastings.
Hannah Mega, who graduated from Palmer High School last year, was responsible for doing the students’ makeup.
Following the mock car crash, a debriefing took place in the auditorium. Sergeant Ken Baer said this is a typical response time for an accident of this nature. From the time the police first arrived on the scene, to when Barraco was taken away in the hearse, it took approximately 30 minutes.
Based on many recent accidents in surrounding towns, Baer said this was important for them to do.
“It looks like a play, but this is real life stuff,” he added.
Krystin Puckett, paraprofessional at Palmer High School, shared her own story. “When I was 11, he [her brother] was 23 and my life changed forever.” Puckett’s brother, a passenger in a car, was killed after the driver hit a tree. The driver survived, however, Puckett said [the driver] needs to carry the guilt of knowing she killed her friend, from either drinking and driving, or being distracted behind the wheel.
Puckett said, “It changes who you are,” as it impacted her family greatly, for several years. She asked students to remember her story before they make a decision that can change many people’s lives forever.