LINN —Linn R-2 docudrama drives home reality of drunk driving for students

Linn R-2 students felt emotions, reactions, and lessons as they witnessed an April 2 simulated crash scene on campus, which carried real weight as participants and observers processed the impact of a drunk-driving docudrama.

FACS teacher and FCCLA Sponsor Christine Wells has organized this kind of event for the last decade at Linn R-2, and said this was one of the best.

“I would say top five,” said Wells. “I think the ER scene that I do, which is where we film the docudrama at night, and then show it as a video, and then do an ER scene. It’s a little bit harder. I think just the filming makes it more relatable.”

The exercise placed students in roles ranging from victims to witnesses, asking them to confront a scenario many admit they had only considered in abstract terms.

“It gets put on the back burner because we’ve been told about it since we can remember,” said senior Joe Brandt, who portrayed a drunk driver who caused a fatal crash that injured several others. “Making it a visual thing kind of puts it into perspective again.”

As the scene unfolded, Brandt came to his senses after a crash that deployed the airbag. As students and faculty watched near the track, actors began moving, seeing the carnage and trying to understand what had just happened.

“Even though it was a fake situation, it still felt like, ‘holy cow, I did this, and it’s all my fault.’ If I was in that situation in real life, I would not know what I would do,” Brandt explained. “I couldn’t do anything, and I don’t want to be in that position.”

For Brandt, the realization of the consequences was profound. “Everything would be over right there,” said Brandt, who recently signed to play football at William Woods University, and is finishing his high school athletic career as a member of the Linn baseball team. “Being in a drunk-driving crash would ruin my life.”

Wells was explicit in her recruitment to ensure parents were partners in the scenario. “I always ask the moms for the drunk driver,” she said. “I don’t ever want a parent to think I think that of their child. I want to make sure they know up front, and if they aren’t good with it, that’s okay. Well, pick somebody else, and the same with the student portraying the deceased victim.”

As the scene unfolded, students called 911, which dispatched the Osage County Sheriff’s Office, Osage Ambulance District, and the Linn Fire Protection District.

“These are important events for young people to see into the future,” said 911 Director Ron Hoffman, who also serves as Linn Fire Protection District Chief. “It should be as simple as recognizing a mistake and asking for help, or being mature enough to stay put.”

911 dispatched everyone. “There was a full cast out there,” said Chief Deputy Travis Shaffer. “Everyone collaborates well with the school.”

Sirens wailed in the distance, closing in on the school as the reality of the situation began to sink in for students.

“Participating in something like this is kind of an eye-opening experience,” said freshman Kylie Goans, noting that she and her classmates watched fellow students dealing with a life-altering experience, even in a simulation. “Since my friend, Lexie (Strong), was in it, seeing her on the stretcher made it seem like that actually happened to her; it seemed pretty real.”

Shaffer noted that a big part of the event’s success is tied to presentation. “I think one of the most realistic components we need to acknowledge is the folks that do the moulage because it’s graphic, and traumatic to some, but it also provides that realism to first responders and to the folks,” he said. “Most of the student body, especially in the high school, were watching, and they needed to see that it’s not pretty. This is the reality we deal with, and what the families have to see.”

The warble of multiple emergency services shaped the moment as students helped classmates, trying to determine the seriousness of their injuries.

Unfortunately, senior Sophie Voss had perhaps the most challenging role as the deceased victim, with tremendous moulage that included a tree branch impaling her midsection.

“I just tried to take it as seriously as I could, but in that situation, I would actually be dead,” said Voss. “It was so hard not to open my eyes when everyone was around me, checking my pulse and shaking me. It was so hard not to move at all, and they’re trying to roll me into the body bag, but I just tried to make it as realistic as possible.”

Voss quipped that she was “voluntold,” learning she would be playing that role … from her mother, Darice.

Wells said she cornered Darice at the drug store and pitched the idea. “She kind of caught me off guard, and I said that I would do it,” Darice said. “I did think about backing out of it, but I had a cousin who was killed in an accident where drinking was involved. I know how important it is for kids to understand the effects that can have on a family, and I just think it’s a great message.”

Darice went home to talk it over with Sophie, and the conversation that followed made it more personal. “She was a little apprehensive, because she didn’t exactly know how she was supposed to react,” Sophie said. “But, I think when she got there and had a little instruction, and then when she saw me, you know, on the ground covered in blood, instincts took over. She’s not stopped talking about how the deputy asked if she had acting experience.”

“I told Sophie there’s so much in life that you guys don’t think about,” Darice said. “You’re thinking about right then, in that moment, and you don’t think ahead, and the effects that can have on other people.”

Darice stressed that the message was important and agreed to allow Sophie to participate in that role. “I told her I thought this was something she could do for the school and her classmates to convey that message,” she added. “She was fine with that.”

Before the drama began, Darice was sitting in a vehicle nearby, waiting for her cue to enter. As shown in the photos and upcoming video release, Darice took her role seriously, charging toward her daughter’s body near a car on its side. “She did a really good job showing her personality,” said Wells, adding she doesn’t believe she’s capable of playing such a role. “That’s a huge responsibility to take on as a mom, and I don’t think I could do that for my own children. It would be too real; that would be horrible. Parents turned me down this year, but I don’t blame them.”

The portrayal of a grieving parent proved especially impactful. “Her running out there like that gave me a genuine reaction of, ‘holy cow,’” Brandt offered. “It made it real.”

Darice said her emotions took over. “I wondered how I would react,” she said, “Honestly, I was worried because I’m not an actress, and I thought, ‘Am I going to make this real enough that the kids are going to believe it and not laugh, and think this is just silly?’ I wasn’t trying to cry, but real tears were coming.”

Darice added that she had no clue how parents conduct themselves in that kind of situation, but she felt every second of it — the idea that her daughter had perished was just part of it. “Being pulled away from your child is hard,” she said. “I just wanted to just pick her up, hold her, and help her, and you’re told you can’t touch them,” she said. “What do you mean, I can’t touch her? I just want to hold her hand and talk to her, but they wanted to preserve the scene. When the deputy told me that, I was not faking tears. I thought about how if this was real, and she was really dead, that’s what would happen, and it would not be fun.”

Shaffer explained the reality of such a situation. “If kids paid attention, they saw some of the things that we do and why,” he said. “It’s a crime scene. We’re not just letting everybody walk around, and there’s a reason for that. It’s not to be insensitive toward those who are grieving. We have to maintain the integrity of the scene. I think it’s important for them to see how somber it is. In a real scene, there would probably be more emotion. You can’t capture the amount of emotion that goes into a real incident like that. I think we would be providing more attention to the passengers and the witnesses, because they would be more expressive about how they’re really feeling.”

Deputies arrived first on the scene and began assessing student needs and whether enough personnel were on hand. Shaffer noted that in a multi-agency situation, it’s important that everyone is on the same page. “Our role is first and foremost to take life-saving measures,” he said. “We group the injured so we’re not searching and wasting time. We reassure them. We’re trained in first aid and basic life support, but we can’t do what medics do. We can apply pressure dressings or a tourniquet. We can get gear for medics. We want to be a force multiplier.”

LFPD firefighters assessed vehicles to ensure extrication, and deputies marked the scene as EMS crews began working on students.

“From an emergency services and especially law enforcement standpoint, thankfully, we work with our partners enough that everybody kind of knows what their roles are,” said Shaffer. “I think that this is a great way to show the student body the realism of impaired driving and what can happen. It also gives us a chance as first responders to go out, even though the stress is less because it’s not a real scene. We get that time with one another where nobody’s life is on the line. We can make mistakes and talk about it if need be.”

OAD crew members worked closely with firefighters and deputies from start to finish. “Participating in community education events like this docudrama is extremely important to us, especially when it involves youth participants,” said OAD Administrator/Chief Josh Krull. “Being able to bring in actual wrecked cars, have students portraying victims, actual emergency responders coming in and functioning in our roles, and giving students a front-row seat to what we do every day. If we can make just one person think twice about picking up a phone to text and drive, or getting behind the wheel and driving while impaired, our time and effort were worth it.”

As students were patched up and prepared for transport, the harsh reality of his situation became clear to Brandt, who was given a field sobriety test on the spot.

“Because alcohol diminishes in your system, we have to do everything for a legitimate case,” Shaffer explained, noting that at the same time, deputies are collecting identifications from everyone involved to make sure there is no delay in care. “There’s a lot of crossover information,” said Shaffer. “I’m walking around checking on my team, asking if they need anything, and making sure they’re doing what I feel is appropriate.”

Brandt had no illusions about his situation. “At the end of the day, I already know what’s going to happen to me,” he said.

When asked what weighed more heavily—his own consequences or the fate of others—Brandt’s answer was immediate. “I thought the most about the lives of the other people and how bad it would affect them,” he said.

One of the more telling aspects of the docudrama’s effectiveness is the fact that students know many of the first responders, and vice versa. In a small community, it’s impossible not to know at least some of them, Wells noted.

That realization compounded how students saw the situation. “It makes it more personal to us,” said Goans, adding that watching everything unfold opened a new way of thinking. “It made me realize that once I can drive, I should stay safe and not drink and drive.”

When asked what they learned, Brandt added, “Always be safe around my friends,” and freshman Isaiah Franken said, “Just don’t do stupid things.”

Wells added that this kind of situation is potentially devastating for first responders because of their community involvement. From attending athletic events to visiting the campus for various reasons, including the Junior Deputy program, these responders get to know the students they serve. “When I started, you didn’t talk about mental health,” said Shaffer, who has more than two decades of law enforcement experience. “It could get you in trouble, so you just sucked it up.”

Now, Shaffer said, law enforcement officers understand the need to help one another through traumatic experiences. “The human body is not meant to see the amount of trauma we see,” said Shaffer, who, along with Cpl. Dennis Sutton completed peer support certification just last week. “That’s to help with grief. There’s a very structured way to help first responders. It’s not for the public, it’s for us — dispatch, firefighters, medics, everybody involved. It takes a toll, whether you acknowledge it or not. Even a mock event can cause distress. It can bring up past trauma you haven’t dealt with. Peer support is a way to prevent long-term mental health issues.”

In addition to in-house peer support specialists, the sheriff’s office has a Chaplain Corps, with pastors available to talk to deputies who need help. Osage County also offers an employee assistance program, another avenue for support.

Coroner A.J. Probst pronounced Sophie Voss dead at the scene, a devastating part of his job, but fortunately, it doesn’t happen that often. He noted that during the 2022-2024 reporting period, Osage County tied with Clinton County for 58th place with 29 motor vehicle crashes, of which two were fatalities involving alcohol, or almost 10%. “With such a small total number, statistically, it’s difficult to draw inferences,” said Probst. “My only advice is to pause and consider the impact of driving impaired, not only to you, but to your potential victims and their loved ones, who will also suffer the consequences of that decision.”

As deputies worked to preserve Sophie’s dignity, Darice Voss exploded onto the scene, fully expressing her anguish and the emotion involved with losing a child in such a way.

Sophie lay still, even when her mother leaned over her “lifeless” body, touching her face and murmuring her name. “She kept telling me, ‘I love you, I love you,’” Sophie said. “I just wanted to say it back.”

Though Darice managed to touch her daughter’s face and come to grips with the portrayal of loss, she was helpless to stop the next logical step — moving Sophie from the scene to the funeral home.

Students agreed that watching Morton Chapel Funeral Director Nathan Veltrop drive a hearse into the school said everything. “It’s not just about, you know, a few bumps and bruises at that point,” said Goans.

“It was a very eerie feeling that I’ve never felt before,” Darice noted. “The thought that your child is in a body bag in the back of a hearse and you won’t see them again is very impactful.”

Others felt that sting. “My mom would definitely freak out,” Goans said.

Franken said he thought his dad would be more likely to freak out, but said it would be tough for both his parents.

Wells has seen mothers react in different ways. “We’ve seen moms get mad at the drunk driver, and others who only wanted to be near their child; and both are absolutely realistic,” she said.

Yearbook Sponsor Tasha Haslag led a team of photographers capturing the experience. Haslag and Kenzy Hackmann caught the action with cameras while Jorja Kempker, Genna Haslag, and Alli Russell shot the docudrama on video.

“Mrs. Haslag was crying and asked me to take pictures for her,” Wells added. “It was a very emotional scene for everyone.”

“The most emotionally difficult moment to capture was when Sophia’s mom came up and had to be held back by the officer,” said Haslag. “That scene hits on one of my biggest fears. Every time we do this docudrama, it’s a powerful reminder of how precious life is—and how fortunate we are as a school community to not have experienced something like this in real life. My hope is that students walk away thinking a little longer before making choices involving drinking or reckless behavior. I also hope it encourages parents to have meaningful conversations with their kids about how quickly accidents can happen. More than anything, I hope it opens the door for connection and gives families a chance to process the experience together.”

Wells is grateful for their involvement, along with all students who portrayed various roles in the docudrama. What’s even better is that she didn’t have to twist arms to get help. “I think they know it has such a big impact that they are willing to do that kind of stuff,” said Wells. “They are willing to do that kind of stuff just to help their fellow friends and classmates, which makes it that much more impressive. I’ve never offered any bonus or anything for anybody ever to do it, but I do buy them lunch after the fact.”

Mag Roberts and Caitlin Jones of Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) helped with moulage for students, but otherwise stayed out of the way. “They used to actually help me plan it all, but after you’ve done all four scenarios, they don’t really want to keep planning for you,” Wells explained. “They have you take over the planning, but they come do the makeup for you.”

Moonlight Dent and Repair owner Travis Greer placed and removed the vehicles used in the docudrama.

The presentation took place right before Easter break, which means there wasn’t a lot of conversation about the scenario until students returned last week.

However, immediately following the docudrama, students went to the gym, where Science teacher Jordan Sallin shared personal experiences. “He talked about his experience in high school, and when he and his (future) wife got in a really bad wreck,” said Wells. “I think that hit home, too. It happens to real people. After that, we went back to Wildcat time, and there was a lot of discussion there. I’m editing the video, and kids are starting to see I’m doing that, and they’re asking more questions and talking some more. I think once that video comes out, there’ll be a lot more talk.”

Darice noted that she and Sophie talked about the situation several times over the weekend following the docudrama. “We brought up the fact that this one decision can hurt so many people, and we just felt sadness,” Darice added. “A tragedy that can happen because of drinking and driving stayed with us for the duration of the weekend.”

The docudrama left an impression, especially on those directly involved in the presentation. “I think drunk driving is something a lot of teenagers hear about, and we learn about it in school, and we hear the statistics,” Sophie said. “But a lot of people never think it’s going to happen to them. They think they’re going to beat the odds, and they’re fine. But seeing the docudrama puts it into perspective that this can really happen to anyone. It can happen to your friends; it can happen to your classmates. It’s a real thing that people go through, so you need to actually take it seriously, because it could happen to you or someone you love.”

Other students involved in the docudrama were seniors Ava Warren, Elizabeth Sprenger, and Gus Peters, juniors Anna Peters, Kahne Brandt, and Olivia Martin, sophomores Charli Lenger, Nash Tyree, and Dawson Sprenger, and freshmen Jakob Poston and Lexie Strong.

Darice said she appreciated the effort that went into the exercise, praising Wells for her dedication over the years and the students for their honest portrayal. “They got to see what this role-playing, all of the different people, their friends who were there, the person who, in this case, died, and what the parents of those people will endure.”

Her closing thought reiterated the point that teens need to be especially careful. “They feel like they’re indestructible at their age, but it’s important for them to see that they’re not,” Darice said.

Hoffman noted that peer support would help prevent tragedies such as the docudrama showed. “When someone is impaired, they’re not thinking clearly,” he said. “A good friend should step in — take the keys, stop them, do whatever it takes. It’s better to lose a friend for a night than attend a funeral. A real friend will come back and thank you.”

“Students should remember that actions have consequences,” Krull added. “This was our opportunity to show them some of the consequences that could happen — but in a controlled environment. I am confident that these events save lives, and I am thankful to the staff, students, and community for allowing us to play a role in prevention and education.”