A Powerful Lesson in Safe Decisions — Norton High School’s Mock Crash Makes a Lasting Impact

by Derek White

photo credit to David Stover

At Norton Community High School, education doesn’t stop at textbooks. On April 2, students and faculty alike won’t soon forget, the school’s chapter of SADD — Students Against Destructive Decisions — hosted a deeply emotional and impactful mock crash demonstration. The event brought together local law enforcement, emergency responders, school staff, and students to stage a realistic simulation of the aftermath of a distracted driving accident.

Leading the charge was English teacher and SADD sponsor Tracy Delimont, who’s made it her mission to instill smart, safety-conscious decision-making in her students. “SADD is all about encouraging students to make positive choices,” she explained. “We participate in Red Ribbon Week in October, host the Great American Smoke out in November, and even give back during the holidays by buying gifts for kids on the Angel Tree. But this mock crash was probably the most hands-on and impactful project we've done.”

This wasn’t your average school assembly. With sirens blaring, emergency crews arriving on scene, and students playing the roles of crash victims, the event felt startlingly real, by design.

photo credit to David Stover

Senior KcAnna Keiswetter portrayed the distracted driver in the crash. “I really wanted people to understand this is real life, not just a skit,” she said. “I screamed, cried, really leaned into the emotions to make it impactful. I didn’t want anyone laughing. I wanted them to feel the consequences.”

photo credit to David Stover

Fellow student junior Evie Vance played a pedestrian who didn’t survive the accident. “My dad was involved in the scene,” she said. “He’s our forensics coach, and he acted out being told his daughter had died. Seeing his reaction, even as part of a simulation, was surreal. It gave me a new perspective on how devastating this would be for parents.”

Delimont noted that the moment when EMTs placed a sheet over Evie’s body, it struck a chord with teachers and students alike. “You could hear a pin drop,” she recalled. “It made the experience real in a way that no lecture or poster ever could. Some of our staff were in tears.”

photo credit to David Stover

Executing such a large-scale simulation took months of planning and collaboration. The Norton Police Department, local firefighters, EMTs, and Trooper Todd, who oversees safety education across northwest Kansas all played essential roles. “I have to give a lot of credit to Becky Jones, a former SADD sponsor who had done something similar in the past,” said Delimont. “Her encouragement and resources were instrumental, and Cameron Archer, our fire chief, was incredibly helpful throughout.”

In the days leading up to the event, Tracy even went door-to-door to notify neighbors near the school that the “crash” was only a drill, ensuring no one mistook the activity for a real emergency.

According to the students, the response from their peers was exactly what they hoped for.

“People told me they got goosebumps,” said KcAnna. “It wasn’t just cool, it was eye-opening. That tells me we did our job.”

photo credit to David Stover

Delimont echoed the sentiment: “One student told me later, ‘That was really cool.’ And I had to say, I’m not sure ‘cool’ is the right word. But POWERFUL? Yes. That’s exactly what it was. It was POWERFUL.”

While the mock crash might have been the most dramatic event of the year, the SADD program continues to engage students every month. From anti-vaping and anti-drinking campaigns to Valentine’s cards for younger students, Delimont and her team stay busy spreading awareness and kindness.

They’ll finish the school year with one more seatbelt check, part of the SAFE initiative (Seatbelts Are for Everyone), which helps fund the group’s projects and encourages students to buckle up.

“I’m just so appreciative of our community,” Delimont added. “They show up. They support academics, extracurriculars, and everything in between. When we do our annual hamburger feed for the Great American Smoke Out, we get such a great turnout I probably need to start cooking more!”

It’s clear Norton isn’t just teaching students to pass tests, it’s teaching them to make life-saving decisions. And with leaders like Tracy Delimont and dedicated students like KcAnna and Evie, the lessons are sure to last a lifetime.

photo credit to David Stover