Lusby, MD – It was in late January 1999 that students at Calvert County’s then-newest high school—Patuxent received a major wakeup call. Three of their fellow students and one adult lost their lives in a devastating crash that occurred near the entrance to Chesapeake Ranch Estates on Rousby Hall Road. In addition to ending the lives of the teens—a 17-year-old boy and two 14-year-old girls—and a 35-year-old male who police determined was clearly not at fault, the crash affected numerous others. Another teen driver who was not injured in the wreck but who had reportedly been playing “chicken” with the male driver of the ill-fated vehicle was charged for his role in the tragedy. The incident created much animosity within the community in addition to the incredible grief that the community had to bear.

“It never goes away,” said Patuxent High School (PHS) Principal Sabrina Bergen.
Most of the current PHS students weren’t even born when the horrific crash occurred. On Thursday, Oct. 13 PHS juniors and seniors, many dressed in celebration of homecoming week, stood in the parking lot to observe a staged drama of a motor vehicle crash.

Chesapeake Region Safety Council Director of Traffic Services Debbie Jennings recalled Calvert County Public Schools (CCPS) first “mock crash” was held approximately 15 years ago in reaction to the 1999 Rousby Hall Road incident. Jennings conceded that not every student would be profoundly changed by the dramatization. “It will have impact on different people,” she told The BayNet, adding that the remarks delivered by the event’s guest speaker might prove more thought-provoking. “Any way you can get to them before they have to go to court.”

The assembly speaker was Suzanne Elzey, who started the CruiseSafe Foundation. Elzey’s son, Tyler, and three of his friends were all killed in a crash on Kent Island in April 2013. CruiseSafe focuses on the risk factors involving all drivers, especially teens. They include speed, texting while driving, distraction, impairment (alcohol and drug use), drowsiness and not wearing seatbelts.

For the Oct. 13 mock crash, organizers used two vehicles that had been wrecked in previous crashes. The scenario was a crash caused by alcohol and excessive speed.

“I need you to pretend you aren’t invincible,” Dfc. Andre Mitchell told the students. The sheriff’s deputy noted that teen and adults “don’t always make safe and informed decisions. Sometime the mistakes we make affect other people.”
Solomons Volunteer Rescue Squad and Fire Department (Company 3) Chief Joe Ford reminded students that their decision to drive unsafely “can affect 50 to 60 people,” including the responders.

The demonstration the students witnessed showed the immediate effects on the motorists—including the on-scene death of a passenger who had been ejected, the quick work of the responders to save as many lives as they could and the consequences faced by the impaired at-fault driver.

Adult participants in the mock crash—in addition to the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office and Company 3 (Ford said 20 of the department’s volunteers were on hand)—included personnel from Rausch Funeral Home. Funding for the guest speaker was provided by the Calvert Alliance Against Substance Abuse.

“I hope it sends a powerful message,” said Bergen. “The kids seemed very receptive.”

Learn more about the CruiseSafe Foundation from their web site. 

Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com