An estimated 400 to 500 students from area schools such as Columbiana, Lisbon, Leetonia and the Columbiana Career and Technical Center attended.

Four senior students from Lisbon’s David Anderson Jr./Sr. High School volunteered and were prepped for their roles about one week ago. They were briefed again right before the demonstration as well, Trooper Emma Thomas, the master of ceremonies of the event, said.

All the students did a fine acting job– including the driver and 911 caller, Cami Freeland; the dead body, Hunter Dailey; and the two occupants trapped inside the vehicle, Nick Freeman and Amore Ramos.

Freeland had a genuine look of terror on her face as she grappled with the make-believe situation and was then given a field sobriety test and arrested for operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Lisbon firefighters and West Point emergency medical services first responders lift the “dead body” of Lisbon senior Hunter Dailey into a black body bag during the Ohio State Highway Patrol’s mock crash demonstration for area students at the Columbiana County Fairgrounds Friday. (Photo by Evan Houk)

When the 911 call echoed through the loudspeaker in the fairground grandstand at the beginning, it set an eerie tone. The scene truly felt like the real thing.

Dailey did not move once throughout the entire performance, as he lay on the ground facedown covered in stage blood for about 30 minutes. Freeman and Ramos hauntingly pounded on the inside of the tan Nissan Murano that Lisbon firefighters eventually cut through to extricate the kids safely.

“This is something we see every single day,” Thomas said.

She told students to make smart decisions and “if you see something, say something.”

West Point emergency management services eventually had to zip up Dailey in a bodybag and carry him away and cart off the other two passengers on stretchers, with the firefighters’ help.

Lisbon firefighters cut into a Nissan Murano involved in a simulated drunk-driving crash in order to extricate occupants trapped in the vehicle during an Ohio State Highway Patrol mock crash demonstration for area students at the Columbiana County Fairgrounds Friday. (Photo by Evan Houk)

Before the mock crash demonstration, Thomas asked the students how many have gotten a speeding ticket, and many raised their hands.

“This is one decision that could change your life,” Thomas said. “Your life, your family’s life, everyone’s.”

She cautioned students that these were very serious matters and one decision not to buckle a seat belt, to speed, to text-and-drive or drink-and-drive could have lasting and life-altering repercussions.

“This is one decision that could change your life,” Thomas said. “Your life, your family’s life, everyone’s.”

“If you need to do any of that (texting or calling), pull over,” she said.

Lisbon senior Amore Ramos is carted off on a stretcher after being extricated from a Nissan Murano during a mock crash demonstration for area students at the Columbiana County Fairgrounds Friday. Ramos was one of the Lisbon students who acted out the dramatic scene to demonstrate the potential horrific consequences of disobeying traffic laws in the event hosted by the Ohio State Highway Patrol. (Photo by Evan Houk)

As a fun ice-breaking event, Thomas wrangled volunteers from the student audience, three from Lisbon and three from Columbiana, to compete in the “Quick Click” challenge. The challenge put the students and their school’s school resource officer inside an Ohio State Highway Patrol demonstration car.

They had to run around the car and buckle themselves into the next seat as fast as possible. Lisbon students won the challenge to cheers of approval from the Blue Devil students.

“It shows students it doesn’t take that much time to put on a seat belt,” Trooper Andrew English, an organizer of the event, said.

Trooper Emma Thomas of the Ohio State Highway Patrol (right) hosted a mock crash event for area students ahead of high school prom season at the Columbiana County Fairgrounds Friday and warned of the dangers of breaking traffic laws. Lisbon senior Hunter Dailey lays beside her, acting as a dead body fatally injured from the simulated drunk-driving crash, at the start of the performance.(Photo by Evan Houk)

Sinsley Towing, of Salem, tow truck sits with a host of emergency response vehicles at the Columbiana County Fairgrounds Friday in preparation for a mock crash demonstration for area students put on by the Ohio State Highway Patrol. (Photo by Evan Houk)

Lisbon senior students prep for a mock crash demonstration prior to the performance at the Columbiana County Fairgrounds Friday. The students gave very realistic portrayals that contributed to the feel of a real fatal crash scene. (Photo by Evan Houk)

Students from Columbiana High School compete against Lisbon students in the “Quick Click” challenge where they unbuckled their seat belts, ran around the car to the next seat, and buckled back in as fast as possible prior to the Ohio State Highway Patrol mock crash demonstration at the Columbiana County Fairgrounds Friday. Trooper Andrew English, an organizer of the event, said it is a fun challenge for students that teaches them how easy and quick it is to put on a seat belt. (Photo by Evan Houk)

Students from the Columbiana Career and Technical Center (CCCTC) file into the grandstand at the Columbiana County Fairgrounds Friday for a mock crash demonstration hosted by the Ohio State Highway Patrol. An estimated 400-500 students from area schools such as Columbiana, Lisbon, Leetonia, and CCCTC attended. (Photo by Evan Houk)