Mock car crash reinforces importance of being safe behind the wheel

KAYENTA

The body of a man landed on a dirt road after he was ejected from a vehicle during a crash on Friday morning. At least three other people were injured and two others were trapped inside the vehicle.

The crash happened near Kayenta Recreation Park. Kayenta Police District responded to the scene.

Firefighters from the Kayenta Volunteer Fire Department, emergency medical technicians from Navajo Nation EMS, and flight paramedics with Eagle Air Med and with Classic Air Medical were called to the scene.

“It’s intense,” Police Sgt. Byron Coolie explained. “Just like right now, we did a scenario on a traffic collision.”

The crushed vehicle at the park got plenty of attention during the Public Safety & Law Day in Kayenta where this mock car crash accident took place. The mock car crash was to show the tragedy of common car accidents in the Kayenta region; and to reinforce the importance of seat belts, paying attention behind the wheel, and to show the consequences of drinking and driving.

But in this scenario, alcohol wasn’t involved.

Coolie said it was a scenario in which there were people in a vehicle. One person was ejected. He had to call for back up.

“Two police officers responded to the scene. The fire department and EMS arrived,” Coolie said. “It gets pretty intense because you never know what you’re going to come across.”

Coolie said his job keeps him motivated to help the public as much as he can. And it’s important for police officers to have motivators to keep their passion for policing strong and to enhance their desire to continually be the best that they can be.

The mock car crash on Friday showed just how police, fire, and the emergency medical first responders comprise a comradeship replete with a bona fide understanding of the inherent dangers that are ever-present in their occupation.

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