Prom Night Tragedy

Prom night turned out to be a deadly one in Flandreau; at least that was the scenario being played out Wednesday during a mock drill.

The exercise on school grounds was meant to look real in order to drive home the message to teenagers that drinking and driving don't mix.

It may be a mock exercise, but the message is real.

"We had a two car accidents where one vehicle ran a stop sign and rear ended another vehicle.  The vehicle that ran the stop sign did have a fatality where she was thrown through the front windshield; the driver of that vehicle was later arrested for DUI," policeman Darin Sinner said.

For students who took part and for those who watched, it felt real.

"It was pretty scary to think about those classmates of mine, good friends seeing they were pretty banged up, looking like they had blood all over.  It was pretty scary," sophomore Geno Burshiem said.

Almost too real for some as a paramedic hugs the students who are caught up in the moment.

"When I heard people, some of my friends, Joe and Jess and Chelsey come screaming and crying, it actually affects you a lot more when you're in it than you think it would," senior Nic Behrens said.

Police say in the last month, Moody County has had three drunk driving fatalities and that's the message they want to get across to these high schoolers: drinking and driving can have deadly consequences. 

"I am sure there will be people who say we are scaring them, but we are scaring them for a good reason.  That this is what can happen to you; the main difference is that all these kids will walk away from today.  In the real situation, they won't be able to walk away," Sinner said.

Flandreau's prom is Saturday April 28.