NORWICH – The high school parking lot was filled with emergency personnel, shards of debris, and more 200 spectators Thursday afternoon.

Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), the Norwich High School, the Norwich Police and Fire Department, came together in front of the Norwich senior and junior classes yesterday to simulate a fatal drunk driving accident.

Students sat witness to a real-time enactment of what happens during an alcohol related accident. The scene was set with battered cars and victims. Police Chief Joseph Angelino narrated throughout the simulation. The program began with the chief explaining common alcohol related injuries while in the background, SADD members covered in false blood and pain-filled expressions, screamed for help. The performers continued to bleed and scream for nearly 15 minutes before help arrived.

“Lucky for them, this accident happened in front of the high school, in the city. Otherwise the response time could be doubled. We have a paid fire crew; anywhere else you’re going to have to wait for volunteers to run home from whatever they’re doing, head to the station, get dressed, and then drive to the scene, assuming you weren’t on some isolated road. If that was the case you’re going to have to run and get help yourself or wait for the next person to drive by.”