Staying Safe on Prom Night

The mangled car sat motionless by the side of the road. Fire and police officials arrived on the scene. One injured and moaning crash victim was put into a waiting ambulance. One teenage girl dressed for prom was laying on the pavement, unmoving. She was pronounced dead and her body was covered with a white sheet.

The tragic incident was fortunately just a re-enactment created by high school students and rescue personnel. It was shown on two big video screens in the Field House at Grayslake Central High School this week. The message was clear - avoid this scene altogether. Do not drink and drive.

After the video, a father, Joel Maines, shared a personal story about love and loss and the unspeakable damage caused by drunk drivers. His beloved 17-year-old daughter, Caitlin, was killed by a drunk driver. She was coming home from Woodfield Mall and hit head-on by a 23-year-old drunk driver who had his third DUI. He escaped from the accident unharmed. Caitlin never woke up.

"June 1 was going to be her graduation party," Maines said. "Instead, we held her wake."

As Maines told Caitlin's story, scenes from her  life flashed on the screens. A little girl playing, dressed up for Halloween, birthday parties, smiling with family members...all now frozen in time.

The message of avoiding the destructive choices came through his poignant story. Maines continues to tell their family's story to teens because he feels that other teens can relate to another 17-year-old like Caitlin.

"I could stand up here and tell you not to drink and drive," Maines said. "But it probably wouldn't make a difference. But please hear this. Don't put another family through what my family has been through. Don't put your family through what my family has been through."

His story, combined with the student video, kept the audience of juniors and seniors in rapt attention.

These students who participated in making the video included Catherine Kleinofen; Josh Pennington; Emily Perkowitz; Erin Thickpenny; Katie Zionkowski; Rachel Perkowitz; Meaghan Fitzsimmons; Hannah Risinger; Kyle Justus; Nick Estrem; Jack Lettenmair; Kaitlyn Camardo; Tess LeBlanc and Hayley Bassett.

Roz Lessem, student assistance program coordinator at Grayslake Central, said she was very impressed by the efforts of all of the students. "We put this message out to students everyday," she said. "Days like today just reinforce this message."

Student Josh Pennington led the event. "This assembly emphasizes the message that risky behavior can end in senseless tragedy," Pennington said.

He thanked the student actors and participants in the video; the Grayslake Police Department; Grayslake Fire Department; the Lake County Coroner's Office; Condell Hospital; Wildwood Towing; Entwined Florist; Men's Warehouse of Gurnee and Team HYellow Media.

"I think that seeing people we knew being in the video makes it more real than having an adult speak to them," Pennington said.

Principal Syd Klocke said she was impressed with the entire assembly. "Every component of it was fabulous," she said. "I think it is really an impactful opportunity. It is not just about prom and making good decisions. It is about life."

Emma Iglesias, a member of Students Against Destructive Decisions, or S.A.D.D., sang in front of the assembly.

"It is something very personal to me," she said. "I hope it impacted them in a way that they understand that drinking doesn't only affect one person. It affects a whole world of people."