CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Around 200 students with the West Creek High School Criminal Justice Academy were witness to a mock car crash carried out by local first responder agencies on Friday.

The first responders went through the steps of removing a victim – in this case a crash dummy – from a car that had landed on its side after crashing. It was a real-world learning experience for the students with the emphasis on what can happen when driving distracted.

Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts speaks to West Creek High School Criminal Justice Academy students, along with local first responder agencies at a Mock Car Crash and distracted driving demonstration on Mar. 22, 2024. (Lee Erwin)
West Creek High School Criminal Justice Academy students, along with local first responder agencies held a Mock Car Crash and distracted driving demonstration on Mar. 22, 2024. (Lee Erwin)
West Creek High School Criminal Justice Academy students, along with local first responder agencies held a Mock Car Crash and distracted driving demonstration on Mar. 22, 2024. (Lee Erwin)
West Creek High School Criminal Justice Academy students, along with local first responder agencies held a Mock Car Crash and distracted driving demonstration on Mar. 22, 2024. (Lee Erwin)
West Creek High School Criminal Justice Academy students, along with local first responder agencies held a Mock Car Crash and distracted driving demonstration on Mar. 22, 2024. (Lee Erwin)
West Creek High School Criminal Justice Academy students, along with local first responder agencies held a Mock Car Crash and distracted driving demonstration on Mar. 22, 2024. (Lee Erwin)
West Creek High School Criminal Justice Academy students, along with local first responder agencies held a Mock Car Crash and distracted driving demonstration on Mar. 22, 2024. (Lee Erwin)
West Creek High School Criminal Justice Academy students, along with local first responder agencies held a Mock Car Crash and distracted driving demonstration on Mar. 22, 2024. (Lee Erwin)
West Creek High School Criminal Justice Academy students, along with local first responder agencies held a Mock Car Crash and distracted driving demonstration on Mar. 22, 2024. (Lee Erwin)
West Creek High School Criminal Justice Academy students, along with local first responder agencies held a Mock Car Crash and distracted driving demonstration on Mar. 22, 2024. (Lee Erwin)
West Creek High School Criminal Justice Academy students, along with local first responder agencies held a Mock Car Crash and distracted driving demonstration on Mar. 22, 2024. (Lee Erwin)
West Creek High School Criminal Justice Academy students, along with local first responder agencies held a Mock Car Crash and distracted driving demonstration on Mar. 22, 2024. (Lee Erwin)
West Creek High School Criminal Justice Academy students, along with local first responder agencies held a Mock Car Crash and distracted driving demonstration on Mar. 22, 2024. (Lee Erwin)
West Creek High School Criminal Justice Academy students, along with local first responder agencies held a Mock Car Crash and distracted driving demonstration on Mar. 22, 2024. (Lee Erwin)
West Creek High School Criminal Justice Academy students, along with local first responder agencies held a Mock Car Crash and distracted driving demonstration on Mar. 22, 2024. (Lee Erwin)
West Creek High School Criminal Justice Academy students, along with local first responder agencies held a Mock Car Crash and distracted driving demonstration on Mar. 22, 2024. (Lee Erwin)
West Creek High School Criminal Justice Academy students, along with local first responder agencies held a Mock Car Crash and distracted driving demonstration on Mar. 22, 2024. (Lee Erwin)
West Creek High School Criminal Justice Academy students, along with local first responder agencies held a Mock Car Crash and distracted driving demonstration on Mar. 22, 2024. (Lee Erwin)
West Creek High School Criminal Justice Academy students, along with local first responder agencies held a Mock Car Crash and distracted driving demonstration on Mar. 22, 2024. (Lee Erwin)
West Creek High School Criminal Justice Academy students, along with local first responder agencies held a Mock Car Crash and distracted driving demonstration on Mar. 22, 2024. (Lee Erwin)
West Creek High School Criminal Justice Academy students, along with local first responder agencies held a Mock Car Crash and distracted driving demonstration on Mar. 22, 2024. (Lee Erwin)
West Creek High School Criminal Justice Academy students, along with local first responder agencies held a Mock Car Crash and distracted driving demonstration on Mar. 22, 2024. (Lee Erwin)
West Creek High School Criminal Justice Academy students, along with local first responder agencies held a Mock Car Crash and distracted driving demonstration on Mar. 22, 2024. (Lee Erwin)
West Creek High School Criminal Justice Academy students, along with local first responder agencies held a Mock Car Crash and distracted driving demonstration on Mar. 22, 2024. (Lee Erwin)
West Creek High School Criminal Justice Academy students, along with local first responder agencies held a Mock Car Crash and distracted driving demonstration on Mar. 22, 2024. (Lee Erwin)
West Creek High School Criminal Justice Academy students, along with local first responder agencies held a Mock Car Crash and distracted driving demonstration on Mar. 22, 2024. (Lee Erwin)
West Creek High School Criminal Justice Academy students, along with local first responder agencies held a Mock Car Crash and distracted driving demonstration on Mar. 22, 2024. (Lee Erwin)
West Creek High School Criminal Justice Academy students, along with local first responder agencies held a Mock Car Crash and distracted driving demonstration on Mar. 22, 2024. (Lee Erwin)
West Creek High School Criminal Justice Academy students, along with local first responder agencies held a Mock Car Crash and distracted driving demonstration on Mar. 22, 2024. (Lee Erwin)

After the first responders removed the dummy, or training aid as it’s called, from the vehicle, it was transported to a LifeFlight helicopter, which had flown in to simulate a real-life emergency.

Clarksville Police Sgt. Gary Mefford coordinated the event and said it was a huge effort and a show of support from all of the participating agencies.

Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts spoke to the students after the demonstration, thanking all of the first responders and agencies and emphasizing to students not to drive distracted.

WCHS Principal Will Ferrell said the event was important to the students. “I think the big thing is this, the kids see that so many groups care about their education and take time to show them career opportunities within the criminal justice field they aspire to do,” he said.

In addition to CPD, agencies involved included, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Clarksville Fire Rescue, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Montgomery County Emergency Medical Service, Montgomery County Traffic Safety Task Force and Vanderbilt LifeFlight.

The vehicle, which was an actual crashed car, was delivered to the school for the event by MaxXx’d Out Towing.