James Clemens’ mock crash warns about distracted driving at prom

MADISON – A student-produced, live-action short film and public service announcement drove home the dangers of distracted driving to James Clemens High School students.

JetsPress, the communications/media class at James Clemens, filmed the PSA about a staged car crash and aired it on March 23, the day before the 2018 Jets Prom to caution the young drivers about the consequences of impaired driving.

“A great, hands-on learning experience. The PSA … gave students something to think about,” John Peck said in describing the mock accident. Peck is Public Relations Manager for Madison City Schools.

Along with JetsPress students, classes in health and theatre collaborated to state a head-on collision between two sedans. “Students enlisted the help of the police department to stage the grueling car accident,” Peck said.

Students in advanced drama at James Clemens portrayed injured and bloodied students, still wearing their formal gowns and suits from the ‘prom.’ The actors applied fake blood and scar makeup. “Theatre students also acted as parents, bystanders and reporters arriving at the scene,” Peck said.

Wearing scrubs and rubber gloves, students from the Health Science Internship class performed as first responders and medical personnel to complete ‘triage’ and treat the accident victims.

“The simulation and filming took place March 20 on the front lawn of James Clemens with the help of the Madison police and fire departments,” Peck said. MCS Superintendent Robby Parker used social media to inform parents and other residents that students were staging the emergency simulation at James Clemens, and thus no cause for alarm.

Theatre teacher Amy Patel said in a Facebook post that “science and art converged to teach more than science and art. I tell my students, ‘Be good. Be safe. Have fun … in that order,’ because my nightmare is that this becomes a reality.”