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Mock collision sends strong message to students in Coaldale

May 10, 2017 | 2:54 PM

COALDALE – As the Victoria Day long weekend approaches, emergency crews in Coaldale had an important message for students at Kate Andrews High School.

They staged a scene outside the school, in which a car had collided with a mini-van, knocking it onto its side. They then worked through the stages of dealing with the collision, from the 911 call, to crews arriving on scene and removing the victims from the wreck.

“I think it’s very important, especially this time of year, before the May long weekend and the summer driving season,” explained Coaldale Fire Chief Kevin McKeown. “Statistically it’s been a very deadly time in the province of Alberta, so I think it’s very important to show them and give them some awareness.”

He noted that in May of 2016 there were 17 traffic related fatalities across the province leading up to the long weekend.

Staff Sgt. Glenn Henry with Coaldale RCMP, echoed McKeown’s comments, acknowledging that it was less than a week ago that two Taber teens were killed, when the vehicle they were in broadsided a semi-truck and trailer at the intersection of Township Road 100 and Range Road 192, northwest of Chin.

“It’s a timely reminder to tell people that we have to be aware of distracted driving, we have to be aware of impaired driving, we have to be always aware of our safety while driving vehicles,” said Henry.

Henry added that the annual demonstration was modified to a staged collision for the safety of emergency personnel, following previous years where they actually crashed two vehicles at 50-km/h in front of the school.

While it may not have the same shock factor, both Henry and McKeown still believe seeing the two destroyed vehicles and the lengthy process of extricating the victims – consisting of living actors and dummies – sends a strong message to spectators.

“It can be difficult for [the students] to see it first hand, but I think it’s good real-life experience for them to look at and visualize, and they can think about that as they head out onto the road,” McKeown stated. “It’s not something they want to be a part of, either them or their friends.

“That text from your buddy that you get on your cellphone while you’re driving, that can wait,” continued McKeown. “It’s not worth risking your life or someone else’s life.”