On Friday, May 22, multiple emergency service groups came together to present a program to Tomahawk High School students on the dangers of distracted driving.
The semi-annual event is used to educate students in the Tomahawk School District on how poor decisions such as impaired or distracted driving can lead to life changing consequences. The event is usually timed to send a message to students right before major events such as prom, graduation or summer vacation.
Students assembled in the morning for a video presentation and a talk led by retired State Trooper Tom Jones. Trooper Jones is now a driver’s education instructor and spoke on how his over 30 years of service with the Wisconsin State Patrol clearly demonstrated to him that even the smallest poor decision can effect a person for the rest of their lives.
Following the auditorium event students came to the practice football field where the emergency service groups demonstrated their response to a motor vehicle crash caused by texting while driving that has fatal results. After the outside demonstration students heard from funeral director Kevin Krueger of the Generations Funeral Home in Tomahawk. Kevin vividly described to the students how he has to guide families through tragic events such as these and the devastating lingering effects it has on their loved ones. Also Paul Proulx from the Lincoln County Coroners office spoke about the steps his office needs to go through when they have a death such as this.
Participants included: Tomahawk EMS, Tomahawk Fire Department, Nokomis Fire Department and First Responders, Tomahawk Police Department, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, the Spirit Air Medical Transport Team, the Lincoln County Coroners Office and the Generations Funeral Home of Tomahawk.