CLARKSTOWN, NY — Rockland County District Attorney Thomas Walsh joined multiple local agencies Monday for a mock DWI accident demonstration held for students at Nanuet High School, officials announced.
The event, held June 9, was a collaborative effort involving the Town of Clarkstown, Clarkstown Police Department, Clarkstown Central School District, Nanuet Community Ambulance Corp, Nanuet Fire Department, and Clarkstown Justice Michael Bongiorno.
The demonstration included a simulated drunk driving crash featuring an extrication of passengers, an arrest of the impaired driver, the placement of a deceased victim into a body bag, and a court arraignment.
Anastasia Karassik, whose daughter Larissa Karassik was killed by a drunk driver on Memorial Day weekend in 2015, served as the keynote speaker. Karassik established the Larisa Karassik Foundation to educate the public on the dangers of impaired driving.
“DA Walsh spoke at the event to encourage our children to be safe, have a plan, and don’t drink and drive,” the District Attorney’s Office stated.
FOCUS ON 100 DEADLIEST DAYS OF SUMMER
The demonstration coincides with the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day, commonly referred to as the “100 deadliest days” due to an increase in traffic fatalities involving young drivers.
Organizers hope that realistic demonstrations like this will help students understand the serious consequences of drinking and driving.
The event also highlighted the continued collaboration between law enforcement, schools, and community organizations to promote traffic safety and responsible decision-making among youth.
