VIDEO/GALLERY: St. Mary students help take a swing at drunk driving

Deforest and her fellow Grade 11 student, 17-year-old Joceline Grezeud, collected money during the St. Mary lunch period so students could smash the car.

At first, it was a little slow going but it wasn’t long before students gathered in a small crowd to get a chance to whack the car and watch.

Deforest likened the smashing of the car to how it would look if a drunk driver had caused an accident.

“When you drink and drive you’re doing your part to destroy this car and destroy people’s lives,” said Deforest. “Hitting the car is like taking someone’s life into your own hands, you are really truly taking your life and the lives of others into your own hands.”

Deforest added that, while some may argue they’re only affecting themselves by driving drunk if they’re alone in the car, she reminds those people that they could possibly affect anyone they drive by if they get into an accident.

“You could seriously affect them and their families,” said Deforest.

St. Mary teacher and advisor to the group Patricia Leask said she’s very impressed with her students for coming up with this idea.

“I think it’s a really good one,” said Leask. “I believe we might repeat this next year.”

She added that support from the community is what really brought this innovative idea together.

“Lyle (Karasiuk) from Parkland had agreed to get the media out for this event, and then P.A. Autowreckers just willingly and gladly donated the wrecked car,” said Leask. “Our students are quite supportive in what we’re doing too.”

All the money collected from the Buck-A-Whack car smash will go towards future projects of the SADD organization.

Check out a video of the kids hitting the car here.

jbowler@panow.com

On Twitter: @journalistjim

by James Bowler

VIDEO/GALLERY: St. Mary students help take a swing at drunk driving

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