Crash simulation in Lyndonville sends message to students, community about drunken driving
Firefighters, law enforcement also stress distracted driving puts people in danger
Photos by Tom Rivers
LYNDONVILLE – Pastor Dan Thurber, right, comforts Amy Burgess this morning during a DWI crash simulation at Lyndonville Central School. Burgess saw her son, Shane Ritzenthaler, be put in a body bag and be taken from the scene in a hearse.
Lyndonville firefighters and local law enforcement have teamed for the DWI simulation for about 20 years, creating a car wreck scene right before prom and graduation parties. The Lyndonville prom will be June 25.
There were also DWI simulations this morning in Holley and Albion.
Orleans County Sheriff’s deputies Jason Barnum and Ashleigh Stornelli were at the scene today. Barnum, the school resource officer at Lyndonville, urged students to be safe and not put themselves and others in danger. He said there fatal accidents every year in Orleans County often involving teen-age drivers.
Dr. Julie Woodworth, an Orleans County coroner, works with Kevin Bogan, left, and Norman Smolarek of Bogan & Tuttle Funeral Home to move Shane Ritzenthaler into a body bag and then into a hearse.
Ritzenthaler said he has watched the simulation before and he said it sends a powerful message to students. He volunteered to be in the simulation and be covered in fake blood and portray a deceased person.
“It definitely paints a picture and a sense of what could happen,” he said.
Other students in the simulation who portrayed injured people were Autumn Kidney, Emma Freas and Anastasia Hess.
Firefighters staged these two vehicles to appear as if they were in an accident. Automotive Solutions donated the vehicles for today’s simulation.
Lyndonville Fire Chief Mike Heideman said he has been to numerous motor vehicles collisions in his 38 years as a volunteer firefighter, including some fatal accidents.
“It’s very difficult to tell the parents what happened, especially in the middle of the night,” Heideman said.
He was one of 11 Lyndonville Lyndonville firefighters who participated in this morning’s simulation.
“We do it for the kids and the community to show what can happen,” Heideman said.
It’s not just drunk and impaired driving that are dangerous, Heideman said. He worries about drivers being districted by their phones. They not only put themselves sin danger but their passengers and other motorists on the road, he said.
Tervel Atanassov, 23, shared about being a volunteer firefighter in Lyndonville. He joined the fire department 238 days ago, and told students he has been welcomed with open arms.
He urged students to consider joining. Last year, three students signed up after the simulation and have proven to be dedicated members, Heideman said.
Atanassov said he has responded to MVAs, lift assists, gas leaks and fire alarms. He will be taking classes to be trained as an interior firefighter, an emergency medical technician and responding to hazardous materials. He also would like to be trained for the tactical rope rescue team.
Scott Goetze, a Lyndonville fire district representative, urged the students to consider joining the fire department or pursuing a career as a police officer.
“We need young people to go into law enforcement and the fire service to meet the needs of small towns like Lyndonville,” Goetze said.
Amy Burgess said it was “surreal” to see her son lying on the ground and then put in a body bag.
“I just hope that nobody will drink and drive,” she said.
