Docudrama held at Monett High School

For the first time in 10 years, a docudrama illustrating the dangers of impaired and distracted driving was held at Monett High School on March 24. The event featured a head-on collision set behind the middle school, but located for dramatic purposes on David Sippy Drive. Responding were personnel from Monett Fire Department, Monett Police Department, Missouri State Highway Patrol, Barry-Lawrence Ambulance District, Cox Air Care 1 from Springfield, and Buchanan Funeral Home. Monett GO CAPS students served as the screaming crash participants. More than 700 students and staff from the high school watched from the adjacent hillside. Firefighters assessed the scene and enacted extrication. Ambulance crews treated victims. Police managed the unruly victims and conducted a field sobriety test. Firefighters helped move one victim to the helicopter that landed nearby. An assembly followed in the high school gym to review the incident. Cpl. Kristin Butterworth from Monett Police portrayed the mother of the fatality. Cpl. Skyler Berry from Monett Police commented, “Today’s event provided an excellent opportunity to educate Monett High School students about the dangers of drunk driving. Every day, we strive to raise awareness in the community, but at today’s event, we successfully reached over 600 students. This achievement would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of all the partner agencies and student participants who contributed to making it happen.” (Murray Bishoff photos)