Safe Communities of Wright County, in partnership with the Wright County Sheriff’s Office and Emergency Management and other agencies, offers the opportunity for school districts in Wright County to provide a unique experience for students, usually just before Prom, Graduation or Homecoming.

The objective of a mock crash is to educate teenagers and young adults, parents and community members about the tragedy of traffic crashes — and to reinforce the importance of seat belts, paying attention behind the wheel and to show the consequences of impaired driving. The overarching goal of a mock crash event is to reduce crashes, injuries and deaths involving younger drivers and their passengers by using visuals to demonstrate real-life consequences. After each mock crash, we ask the school district to have the students fill out a survey in order to evaluate the efficacy of this program.

Mock Crashes — Dramatic Reality Check

The mock crash uses real crashed vehicles set up on school grounds and student participants to dramatically act out roles as crash victims. The school’s Juniors and Seniors will watch the demonstration and learn how emergency responders conduct rescue efforts in real-time. Parents are also invited and encouraged to attend.

Participating in the event are law enforcement, student actors, community member actors, emergency medical services, fire department(s), air care and crash impact speakers.

The Why: Traffic Crashes — Leading Cause of Teen Deaths

Traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for Minnesota teens age 15 – 19. Each year, around 30 teens are killed in crashes and only 40 percent are buckled up. These crashes are primarily due to inexperience behind the wheel, poor seat belt use and risk-taking behaviors such as speeding and distracted driving. Alcohol can also be a factor in teen crashes, especially during prom and graduation seasons.

It’s important for mock crash coordinators to invite parents to the event. Parental participation and awareness facilitates and encourages important traffic safety related dialogue between parents and teens.

Conducting a mock crash event requires an extensive availability of local resources from several entities such as schools, law enforcement, emergency medical services and the fire department. Alone, a mock crash event may have only short-term impacts. To be effective, mock crash events need to coincide with popular high school events, and a high-visibility enforcement effort focusing on seat belt use, distracted driving or alcohol. Enforcement agencies are encouraged to plan at least some of their high visibility efforts in areas and during times that will impact younger drivers and passengers. Use the mock crash as an event to promote the enforcement campaign.

Additionally, to be effective, mock crash events need to coincide with other youth-based educational traffic safety initiatives. Victim impact presentations, classroom discussions, demonstrations and other activities can have a greater impact on changing teen driver behaviors.

Goals of this exercise:

1. To graphically illustrate to high school students the serious consequences of impaired and distracted driving.
2. To increase seat belt use among high school drivers.
3. To increase the awareness of students’ choices regarding impaired and distracted driving.
4. To familiarize students to the role of Public Safety personnel and the services they provide to the community.

Check out this 2023 STMA Mock Crash Video Production:

Mike and Cindy Gapinski share their story with the Juniors and Seniors after the Mock Crash Scenario

Brian Lutes, Wright County Attorney, speaking about the potential legal repercussions of what occurred in the Mock Crash.

The “Mock Obituary” of the actress in the Mock Crash who was reported to lose her life as a result of the crash.

Students watching the “booking video”.