Sherman High School students witness sobering reality of drunk driving

SHERMAN, Texas (KXII) - Sherman High School showed students the sobering reality of getting behind the wheel intoxicated during its Shattered Dreams presentation on Wednesday.

According to TxDOT, 26% of all traffic deaths in Texas involve a drunk driver.

“This is something that happens often, a lot more often than it should,” said Sherman Patrol Officer, T. Carroll.

During the presentation, some senior students and local law enforcement acted out an accident caused by intoxicated driving.

While it was staged, it was a graphic scene with costume makeup and real damaged vehicles.

“It’s a real-life event that we’re trying to create some awareness for our students, to show them that you’re not invincible,” said Sherman High School Student Activities Coordinator, Thalia Estes.

Junior and senior students watched as first responders assessed the horrific accident and the people involved.

While some students did not survive, others ended up here in the back of a police car facing charges for the accident they caused.

Before this, they were put through field sobriety tests and the passengers who did not survive into body bags.

“Every decision that you make has a consequence with everything that you do,” Carroll said.

The repercussions can impact more than just the person who decided to drink and drive.

“You can kill your friends, You can kill somebody’s loved one, Mom, dad, sister, brother,” Carroll said, “It has a major impact not just on yourself, but the entire community involved.”

An important lesson to learn as seniors celebrate the end of high school with prom and graduation parties.

“Prom is really exciting, there’s a lot of fun, and everybody’s really excited to graduate,” Estes said, “We’re really trying to give the students a little extra advice.”

So each student makes it to graduation and into the next chapter of life.

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