Driving awareness program teaches students to stay safe

Recent accidents have taken the lives of five young people over the past two weeks. Tragedies that are familiar to one community. But, a program in place is encouraging drivers to be careful and it seems to be working.

Matthew Derrick doesn't remember much about his accident, but it has had lasting effects.

"I may have dozed off for just a quick second, but that's all it takes," Matthew says. He lost most of his arm in that accident two years ago.

"It's been a roller coaster ride. Up and down, up and down, up and down. I get better one week and the next week I get knocked right back down," he says.

A trying experience that he and his doctor, Diane Rourke, now use to teach others. A type of presentation that fit perfectly into Powell High School's new driving awareness program.

"Being able to present Matt at the end of the presentation, have them see him not just as a picture on the slide, but the real thing, I think brought the message home to them," Dr. Rourke says.

An important message that strikes a chord with Powell students. Starting in 1999, a series of wrecks left more than a dozen Powell students dead.

Lauren Underwood is a senior at Powell. She says, "With the Powell High School history of people having wrecks and stuff like that it's definitely a good idea just to let students know, be aware of things that happen."

The school is now moving forward. There hasn't been a fatal accident involving a student in at least two years. And it's people like Matt motivating students to stay safe.

"I've always wanted to help people, ever since I was little and now maybe this is the way I'm supposed to do it," Matt says.

Powell's program has been in place for two years. This year's highlight will come next week when Rusty Wallace visits the school to award one student a brand new car.