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| Demonstration reminds students to be safe on homecoming weekend |
T.J. Shaw, who was killed in the Friday morning wreck at Franklin County High School is half in and half out of the vehicle, while two FCHS EMT students prepare one of the injured for transport. |
Monday, October 19, 2009
By MORRIS STEPHENSON - Staff Writer
One student was "killed" and four others "injured" in a single-car crash early Friday morning at Franklin County High School.
Many adults and students who passed the scene on school buses were visibly upset.
It was a bad start to the homecoming weekend activities.
The wreck occurred about 7:45 a.m. in front of the technical buildings at the high school.
An ambulance from Franklin County Public Safety, two fire trucks from the Rocky Mount Volunteer Fire Department and Virginia State Master Trooper Tim Harris were on the scene.
Flashing red, white and blue lights warned approaching motorists of the accident in which a car jumped a sidewalk and struck a tree.
The deceased driver apparently was not wearing a seat belt. His legs were still in the vehicle. The upper part of his body, draped in a white sheet, was on the damp asphalt in mid-40 degree temperatures. He was identified as T.J. Shaw, a junior at FCHS.
The other students were in the vehicle when the rescue squad arrived. They were Elizabeth Torrence, Amberlee Dixon, Tyler Bower and Qualish Trotter.
It was the second accident of its type on the campus in recent years. The last also was on homecoming weekend in 2006.
As it turned out, all of the students were in good health as the wreck was staged by students in Brian McClung's criminal justice classes and members of YOVASO Club (Youth of Virginia Speak Out about Traffic Safety).
Those in the ambulance were all FCHS students who were enrolled in Eric Newman's EMT-B class.
Rendering first-aid to the victims were Sandra Beckner, Lacy Meador, Erica white, Haley Gearheart and Haiey Dillon. They were assisted by EMT members of the RMVFD.
Plans for the mock crash began about two weeks ago, according to McClung. He notified dispatchers at the Franklin County Sheriff's Department of the plan in advance.
McClung said students participating in the crash arrived at the school at 7 a.m.
Morris' Garage in Sontag had the "perfect" car for the wreck. It had sustained damage to the right front and was a good fit for the tree and a plain view for passers-by of the accident scene.
To add to the realism of the crash site, a newspaper photographer was taking pictures, along with a team from the school's video/tv class.
EMT students, with the help of adult EMTs, prepared the injured on body boards for transport to a local hospital. While this was taking place, Shaw played his role as the deceased by not moving a muscle for some 20 minutes.
"We planned this in conjunction with the homecoming weekend and as a grand finale to our 'tailgate' project. We're in competition with 44 other YOVASO Clubs throughout the state," McClung said.
He said the students wanted to make everyone aware of the homecoming weekend, hoping this will make everyone to be careful in their travels.
"We don't want to do this every year or it'll lose its effectiveness. The last time we had a mock crash, our seniors were freshmen," he continued.
"We all just hope this will serve as a reminder to drive safely," McClung added.
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