University News

Mock DUI April 20

April 13, 2015

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MACOMB, IL -- Each day, people drive drunk almost 300,000 times. - Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The dangers of drunk and buzzed driving will be presented Monday, April 20 as Western Illinois University Emergency Medical Services (WEMS), a volunteer student organization, re-creates a realistic scene of an alcohol-related accident at the 24th annual Mock DUI project.

The event will begin at 10 a.m. near the southwest corner of Q-Lot, near the Donald S. Spencer Student Recreation Center on the WIU-Macomb campus. Officers from the WIU Office of Public Safety (OPS), the District 14 Illinois State Police and the McDonough County Sheriff Department, as well as emergency personnel from the Western Emergency Medical Services (WEMS), the Macomb Fire Department and McDonough District Hospital will respond as if the accident were real. LifeFlight from Peoria is tentatively scheduled to fly in and McDonough County Coroner Eric Jameson will also respond. The vehicles have been provided by Minus Muffler of Macomb.

"We want to provide a real view of drunken driving and its tragic effects," said OPS Corporal and WEMS Adviser Ted Anderson. "The Mock DUI project is graphic, but anything that deters people from drinking and driving is a plus. Too many people think it can never happen to them. We just hope that this opens their eyes and proves that they don't have to just worry about their actions, but also the actions of the car next to them."

As prom time and graduation quickly approach, more than 200 students from area high schools are expected to attend to observe the situation as it unfolds. WIU faculty, staff and students, as well as community members are also encouraged to attend.

For more information, contact Western's EMS Office at (309) 298-2863, OPS at (309) 298-1949 or University Relations at (309) 298-1993.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing