SADD Club hosts mock crash with help of local first responders

On the Thursday before Memorial Day weekend, the Warwick Valley High School's chapter of SADD, Students Against Destructive Decisions, hosted its biannual mock crash event, engaging both juniors and seniors in a powerful lesson about the consequences of drunk and distracted driving.

This year’s event was especially timely, taking place during a period of celebration for many Warwick Valley students, prom season. The mock crash served as an important reminder to students to make safe choices while celebrating. The heightened excitement and social atmosphere around prom can sometimes lead to risky decisions; the SADD Club’s initiative aimed to reinforce the message that celebrations should never come at the expense of personal safety.

_{See a gallery of photos from the mock crash below this story.}

The seriousness of the topic really came through thanks to support from the Warwick Fire Department, Warwick EMS, and Warwick Police Department. A special thank you to our own School Resrouce Officer, and Warwick PD Officer, David Serviss, who played a crucial role in planning the event, both ensuring authenticity and event safety. 

The realistic crash scenario included badly damaged passenger cars along with first responder vehicles, demonstrating how quickly lives can take a turn for the tragic due to a single bad choice. Five student actors—Aaron Rosin, Leah Purta, Madeline Palumbo, Genevieve Cloutier, and Madeline Bates—portrayed accident victims. The actors even wore graphic makeup, applied by students from Kathleen Bettello’s cosmetology program, to enhance the realism of the simulation.

Following the mock crash, students gathered in the auditorium to hear from guest speaker Marianne Angelillo, who partners with agencies including the National Safety Council and New York Governor's Traffic Safety Committee, to address the topic of drinking and driving. She shared the story of her own son, Matthew, who died in a drunk driving accident in June 2004, at the age of 17. She shared with the WVHS students that Matthew had been at a bonfire, celebrating with friends. When it was time to go home, Matthew climbed into the passenger seat of his friend's sports car. His friend had been drinking. Just minutes down the road, they were in a high-speed car crash that took Matthew's life.

As part of her presentation, Ms. Angelillo shared passages from her book, Sharing My Stones, which details "her family's difficult journey and ultimately shows us the transforming power of grief, love and faith." Students were rapt by her story, which emphasized the importance of making smart choices and the lasting impact our decisions can have. With such powerful imagery and messaging, the SADD Club’s mock crash continues to serve as a vivid reminder to students about the risks of impaired and distracted driving, and encourages everyone to think carefully and act responsibly.

Special thanks to the students in Edward Avlia’s criminal justice program for providing guidance and saftety throughout the event, and to Anna Penny’s photo students and yearbook staff, whose pictures captured the gravity and impact of the event.

Mock Crash Gallery