One second can change EVERYTHING.

                          Irreversibly so. . . A sobering and visually powerful message about the ultimate, horrific consequences of driving while intoxicated called “One Second, Everything Changes” is on display in the Newark High School foyer. The New York State STOP-DWI Foundation exhibit primarily focuses on the lives of three teens and one youth adult from the Town of Jasper in Steuben County who were tragically killed in a 2007 DWI accident during homecoming weekend. Included are some personal belongings of the deceased. Three of them were students at Jasper-Troupsburg High School and the fourth was a recent graduate. One of the teens, 17 year-old Tiara O’Dell, was named homecoming queen just hours before her death. The police investigation revealed they had been at a party before the crash and that the driver was intoxicated. “The exhibit sends a very important message to our young adults who will see that making the wrong choice to drink and drive or be a passenger in a vehicle that is operated by a person who has been drinking, can have devastating results”, said Wayne County Sheriff Barry Virts, who is also the County STOP-DWI Coordinator. “It is my hope to prevent this kind of tragedy, or any other alcohol or drug-related tragedy here in Wayne County with our STOP-DWI prevention, education and enforcement efforts.” “Every life we lose tragically becomes another story, and with the help of the Newark School District, we hope to keep our young people informed, responsible and alive,’’ added Newark Police Chief David Christler. Wayne County STOP-DWI partnered with the Newark Police Department and the Finger Lakes Council on Alcoholism to bring the exhibit to NHS. The powerful exhibit tugs on the heartstrings of Newark High School Principal Thomas Roote. “The display is particularly powerful to me given an experience one of my closest friends went through following our senior prom,’’ he recalled. “Scott awoke in the early morning hours after a post prom party. He left the party thinking he was fine. He was not. Upon entering a roadway he struck a pedestrian and left the scene. The pedestrian recovered, but was permanently disabled.

over in an instant

“Scott has since passed away and carried the guilt of this event to the grave. My entire graduating class still carries the trauma of this post prom event. Preventing this among Newark teenagers is important to me and as a result NHS is a welcome recipient of the display. Seconds after the display was completed I was able to gaze on it with one of our seniors. He was the beneficiary of my story. This would not have happened without the display.”

NHS Prevention Counselor Becki Bigham is also very grateful to have the exhibit at the school. She noted February 12 that while it had only been on display at the school for 24 hours, she had seen several students stopping to quietly read the poignant message on the panels and view some of the deceased students’ possessions. “It’s a powerful tool,’’ she said. Virts said the exhibit is not only for students but for parents, since many parties where alcohol is served are hosted by them. He said the new social host laws hold people accountable for hosting parties where alcohol is served. “We also want the parents to think about these issues and understand that the impact of an alcohol-related crash will last a lifetime” Virts said. Wayne County STOP-DWI partnered with the Newark Police Department and the Finger Lakes Council on Alcoholism to bring the exhibit to NHS. It is hoped people from the community will also come to the school to view the exhibit from 3 to 6 p.m. weekdays and when attending various events while it is on display for the next five weeks. Any other Wayne County school districts who wish to host the exhibit should call the County STOP-DWI office at 946-7613 or email bvirts@co.wayne.ny.us.

A powerful message.

In photo above from left: Newark Police Chief David Christler; Newark High School Principal Thomas Roote; NHS Prevention Counselor Rebecca Bigham; Finger Lakes Council on Alcoholism educator, Billie Lohr; Wayne County Sheriff Barry Virts and Undersheriff Rick House.

Brought here by those who care.