GRANTS, N.M. – Grants High School students received a firsthand look at the consequences of impaired driving last week as local emergency responders staged a mock vehicle crash ahead of the school’s homecoming weekend.
Grants Fire and EMS, the Grants Police Department, PHI Air Medical and Route 66 Towing participated in the demonstration along Second Street outside Grants High School.
Acting Grants Police Chief Joe Galindo said Camye Baker with PHI Cares helped put the effort in motion, bringing the agencies together to demonstrate what can follow a serious crash involving an impaired driver.
Students gathered outside the high school as emergency crews responded to the staged scene, which included an overturned vehicle. Fire and EMS personnel demonstrated the emergency response while PHI brought in an air-medical helicopter as part of the exercise.
The demonstration was held ahead of homecoming weekend to encourage students to think about the potentially serious consequences of drinking and driving before celebrations began. The exercise also gave students an opportunity to see the coordinated response required from police, firefighters, emergency medical personnel, air medical crews and towing services when a serious crash occurs.