VIDEO: MHS Students Enact Drunk Driving Accident

Tears appeared in the audience as Mehlville students portrayed a drunk driving accident Thursday morning at the .

The graphic depiction of what can happen when teens drink or text and drive was a warning sign to the students before prom on May 5.

Prior to the display, juniors and seniors watched a video that set the scene: two cars were driving, one leaving a party with an intoxicated driver and one headed to the party, distracted by passengers and phones.

The two cars “crashed” on Lemay Ferry Road near the high school, killing two students, Nick Williams and Maura Simokaitis.

School Resource Officer Charlie Rodriguez and members of the senior class organized the event, with the help of St. Louis County Police, Arch Medical Air Transport, the and .

“We wanted them to learn from the message and not from personal experience,” Rodriguez said.

The police officer covered all the bases, from the 911 call to extracting the victims, and even had one of the deceased parent’s react to the news.

“I got teary-eyed when Nick's mom came out and saw him,” said senior Anna Smith. Smith was the make-up artist for the accident portrayal, which featured members of the school’s drama program.

“It can happen just that quickly,” Nick's mom, Cheryl Williams said. “They said not to scream, but I couldn’t help it when they told me that he was gone. It’s the most devastating feeling.”

Christine Hearst knows the reality of that feeling when her son Jonathan was killed in a car accident almost 10 years ago. He went to Mehlville and was 19 when he died.

Hearst attended the event and appreciated the message that the students delivered.

“It did bring up old memories, but it’s good for the soul,” she said. “I sincerely hope these kiddos take the message to heart.”