March 2, 2018 – The Colorado State Patrol and Yuma County Sheriff’s Office teamed up with the Idalia School’s Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) to hold a mock crash exercise as a part of their state project. The exercise required several months of planning and was held last Monday (February 26th) at an intersection approximately one mile southwest of Idalia.
An accident scene was staged during the early morning hours and Idalia high school students were bussed to the location to be spectators as a multitude of local first responder agencies responded to the area to allow the exercise to unfold in real time in front of the students. The exercise simulated a two-vehicle accident in which two students were transported via ambulance, one via helicopter, and one deceased; all the result of texting and driving.
The scenario resulted in the simulated arrest of the texting driver, at which point all the students were bussed to the Yuma County Courthouse to view his mock trial for the charges of Careless Driving Resulting in Death, and Careless Driving Resulting in Injury. The scenario stressed to the students the far reaching impact and consequences that a seemingly small decision, like texting and driving, can have.
We would like to thank the Idalia FBLA for inviting us to be a part of planning and participating in this exercise, and we wish them the best of luck with their state project competition. We would also like to thank the Colorado State Patrol for their primary role in planning the exercise, and the following agencies/organizations for their participation in the exercise: Idalia Fire Department, Idalia EMS, Southwest YW Ambulance, Flight for Life, the WY Communication Center, Yuma County Office of Emergency Management, the Yuma County Coroner, Idalia School District, the 13th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, and the Yuma County Combined Courts.
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