Springbank School's Students Against Dangerous Driving give gory lesson in perils of drink-driving

Senior Constable Rob Drummond tries to get a statement from Josh Traas, 17, who played the part of the drunk driver. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Children at Springbank School were given a graphic demonstration of why alcohol and driving shouldn't mix with a gory simulated car crash on the Kerikeri school's grounds.

Hosted by the school's Students Against Dangerous Driving (SADD) group, the scenario involved Kerikeri Fire Brigade, St John Ambulance, Mid North police, two injured passengers, a belligerent driver and lots of fake blood. The front seat passenger was killed in the impact.

With one patient suffering a broken neck, volunteer firefighters had to cut off the vehicle's doors and roof so that St John staff could extract her with the minimum of movement.

Afterwards, each of the services gave students a run-down on their roles in a real-life crash and Senior Constable Rob Drummond explained the consequences for the driver.

The event was organised by Malindi Reihana-Ruka and Tracy Schuetze, both in Year 13. Schuetze, 17, is a qualified firefighter with the Paihia brigade.

A Kerikeri volunteer firefighter uses hydraulic cutting equipment - better known as the jaws of life - to cut a door off the crashed car. Photo / Peter de Graaf

A medic places a neck brace on badly injured passenger Poppy Lenton, 17, from Hokianga. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Deputy principal John Haydock shows off a simulated compound fracture to his arm. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Volunteer firefighters lift the roof off the car so medics can safely extract an injured passenger. Photo / Peter de Graaf

St John medics carefully remove Poppy Lenton, playing the part of a passenger with a broken neck, from the wreckage. Photo / Peter de Graaf

St John medics take Poppy Lenton, acting the part of a passenger with a broken neck, to a waiting ambulance. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Crash victim and event organiser Malindi Reihana-Ruka, 17, of Tapuaetahi, miraculously comes back to life. Photo / Peter de Graaf