Students at New Manchester High School recently witnessed the harsh realities of drunk driving
firsthand through Shattered Dreams, a two-day, school-based program designed to help juniors and seniors make responsible choices about underage drinking and impaired driving.
To emphasize the consequences of impaired driving, a mock car crash was staged in the parking lot of the school with student volunteers portraying critically injured victims. Following the demonstration, a different student was pulled out of class every 15 minutes to symbolize the national statistic that a teen dies in a distracted driving accident every 15 minutes. In addition, 20 students slept overnight at Grady Hospital, shadowing surgeons to learn about emergency care and trauma response.
Firefighters, police, EMS personnel, court officials and other local partners participated in the simulation, which included the arrest of a “drunk driver” and family notifications.
Principal Casey Bethel credited strong community partnerships for making the experience 
impactful for students.
“New Manchester pulled off the ‘Shattered Dreams’ program in collaboration with Grady Hospital, the Governor's Office of Highway Safety, Wellstar Douglas, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, State Court Judge Brian Fortner and a long list of partners,” Bethel said. “It made a lasting impact—turning the dangers of drunk and distracted driving into a powerful, unforgettable lesson.”
Assistant Principal Susan Wilson, who helped organize the event, also praised the program’s influence.
"Our promise to all of the collaborating organizations is that the information and experiences we gathered will have an impact on the broader community through multiple years," Wilson said.
Students experienced the real-life consequences of accidents caused by distracted or drunk driving.
Additionally, those who participated in the overnight stay at Grady not only learned valuable lessons about impaired driving, but also explored career opportunities and made meaningful connections with professionals who can support them after graduation.
The reenactment was sponsored by the Governor's Office of Highway Safety, and organized by Stephanie Verna and Lawrence Blair from Grady Hospital.
This was the first year New Manchester High hosted the event.