Tell City High School plans mock prom safety event Monday

Impaired and distracted driving took center stage at Tell City Jr./Sr. High School as police, firefighters and EMS personnel staged a mock prom safety exercise meant to show how quickly a celebration can turn into a crash scene.

Tell City police said the exercise was scheduled for Monday morning, April 20, at the school and came with an increased police presence across campus. The scenario was designed to educate students about the risks of drinking, drug use and cellphone distraction during prom season, when teen driving can become especially dangerous.

The drill fit a broader push by Indiana health and safety officials to make prom season feel real, not theoretical. Nearby school systems have used mock crash presentations to show students the consequences of impaired and distracted driving, and one recent report said Indiana teens had more than 5,000 emergency-room visits in the past five years tied to drugs, alcohol or cell-phone distraction, including more than 500 motor-vehicle-related injuries. The Indiana Department of Health says motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of injury death for teens and young adults ages 15 to 24.

Tell City Jr./Sr. High School also publicly thanked the Perry County Substance Abuse Committee for a donation supporting the 2026 TCJSHS prom and after-prom. In its message, the school said it appreciated the committee for a “generous donation” that helps provide a “safe, fun, and memorable experience” for students.

The Perry County Substance Abuse Committee says its mission is to address health and social issues in the community resulting from substance abuse, working with existing resources to raise public awareness and develop programs that prevent, reduce and treat substance abuse. With prom season now underway, the mock exercise was meant to leave students with one clear takeaway: a bad decision behind the wheel can end the night, and change a life, in seconds.