Florida A&M University and the FAMU Police Department teamed up to inform students about being safe during spring break.
Spring Awareness Day kicked off Wednesday with a mock car accident on the corner of Wahnish Way and Gamble Street and was followed by a mock funeral, all in an effort to keep students alert of the fatal dangers of drunk driving.
As explained by FAMU PD officers, the car used in the “accident” was a green Mitsubishi Galant.
The airbags in the car were deployed, the windshield was shattered and the bumper was detached and sitting a few feet away from the car.
The wreck reenactment was complete with FAMU officers on the scene. An ambulance and fire truck arrived with the sirens blaring and the passengers of the car were removed by medical personnel and loaded into the ambulance en route to the hospital.
Officer Freddy Franklin of FAMU PD explained the scenario.
“Two young men that obviously have been consuming alcoholic beverages were heading north bound, lost control of the car and hit the pedestrian crosswalk post,” Franklin said. “The driver was unconscious and the passenger, who had been thrown from the car, was conscious but seriously wounded.”
Several students walked up to see what was going on and asked questions.
Although the mock car accident is staged every year, many people believed it was real.
Senior Research Analyst for FAMU’s Office of Institutional Research Dilnesaw Asrat, was convinced the accident was real.
“I was walking and I thought they were really dead,” Asrat said. “I was really shocked. I asked someone and they told me what was going on.”
Another onlooker was also given the impression that the crash was real.
“I was about to cry when I first walked up because I don’t like seeing stuff like this,” said Danielle Thomas, 23, a senior print management student from West Palm Beach. “I didn’t know it wasn’t real until someone told me. It’s very affective though and we do have to be aware (of drinking and driving).”
Johnnie Moore, 22, a senior criminal justice student from Miami, played the drunk driver.
“I got involved through the Sunshine Manor Counseling Assessment Center,” Moore said. “This helps the students realize the importance of not drinking and driving.”
The reenactment was emotional for Moore because of his history with a drunk driver.
“I myself got hit by a drunk driver when I was 10,” he said. “It was a hit and run, so I know the importance.”
Rhone Francis, 22, a senior criminal justice student from Miami, played the passenger and was also touched by the event.
“I’ve been playing the victim role for three years now,” Francis said. “It’s very sentimental and every year they work harder to make it more realistic. The counseling center, police department and student activities did a real good job this year.”
The mock car accident was followed by a string of events on The Set that included a mock funeral.
“The funeral will reach the students on The Set who didn’t witness the accident on Wahnish Way and Gamble Street. It’ll be great to see how it affects them,” Francis said.
The funeral, like the accident, was made to appear as real as possible to have a lasting affect on the students. The closed casket was carried by pallbearers and set up on a stage.
There were two solo singers, and “the Rev.” Vincent Evans, 19, a sophomore political science student from Jacksonville, gave the eulogy.
Following the funeral, students were allowed to participate in other activities. Officers allowed students to wear fatal vision goggles and attempt to walk a straight line.
They also played a matching game wearing the goggles where they had to try to put different shapes in their respective slots in a short amount of time.
The task proved difficult to most.
“I had fun wearing the drunk goggles but it was scary at the same time. It was so hard to see straight,” said Wescina Lowe, 23, senior criminal justice student from Long Beach, Ca. “It’s amazing people even attempt to drive in that condition.”
alcoholic beverages were heading north bound, lost control of the car and hit the pedestrian crosswalk post,” Franklin said. “The driver was unconscious and the passenger, who had been thrown from the car, was conscious but seriously wounded.”
Several students walked up to see what was going on and asked questions.
Although the mock car accident is staged every year, many people believed it was real.
“I was about to cry when I first walked up because I don’t like seeing stuff like this,” said Danielle Thomas, 23, a senior print management student from West Palm Beach. “I didn’t know it wasn’t real until someone told me. It’s very affective though and we do have to be aware (of drinking and driving).”
Johnnie Moore, 22, a senior criminal justice student from Miami, played the drunk driver.
The reenactment was emotional for Moore because of his history with a drunk driver.
“I myself got hit by a drunk driver when I was 10,” he said. “It was a hit and run, so I know the importance.”
The mock car accident was followed by a string of events on The Set, including a mock funeral.
“The funeral will reach the students on The Set who didn’t witness the accident on Wahnish Way and Gamble Street. It’ll be great to see how it affects them,” Francis said.
The funeral, like the accident, was made to appear as real as possible to have a lasting affect on the students. The closed casket was carried by pallbearers and set up on a stage. There were two solo singers, and “the Rev.” Vincent Evans, 19, a sophomore political science student from Jacksonville, gave the eulogy.