Friday's Internet Edition, May 10, 2002.
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Staff Writer
- In one reckless instant, Forsan High School junior Ross Rhoton shattered eight lives including his own.
On Monday a jury of 12 Forsan High School students found Rhoton responsible for the deaths of six people and the crippling injuries to one Coahoma High School star athlete. The 17-year-old was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Luckily for Rhoton and the other eight students participating in Shattered Dreams, the terrible car wreck in front of Coahoma High School Monday was only staged.
The two-day program — presented by Victim Services, local law enforcement and emergency services in conjunction with both Coahoma and Forsan high schools — had area juniors and seniors witness the aftermath of a drunk driving accident.
As Department of Safety troopers and Howard County Sheriff’s deputies arrived upon the mock scene, Rhoton said the event became a little more real.
“It was no big deal until I heard the sirens,” Rhoton said. “I could feel myself getting scared. Especially when I was talking to Jason Hester, the DPS officer, I was actually scared and I did feel sorry for the people on the ground.”
Rhoton added the trial was even more difficult, especially when he saw Coahoma High School athlete Billy Bob Walker being pushed up to the stand, crippled by the accident.
“When Billy Bob gave me this look, it was hard,” he said. “We laughed about it afterwards but at the time it was tough.”
Testimony from his mother was the most difficult part of the trial, Rhoton said.
“When Mom was on the stand I could barley look at her,” he said.
Also part of the program: A student at each high school was taken out of classroom every 15 minutes to represent that a person dies in a DWI accident every 15 minutes.
The students were called the living dead and taken to an overnight retreat with Victim Services to discuss the consequences of drinking and driving.
During the retreat, students read their obituaries written by the parents as well as a letter from their parents describing how they would feel if their child were to die.
“The program is based on taking these kids out of the classes room and seeing it,” Linda Perez, Victim Services volunteer coordinator said. “We want them to be able to go back to school and share with their friends. We want them to understand it’s not just a message, a campaign. It’s living it.”