Students See Consequences Of Dangerous Decisions At Inaugural Decision House

Indianapolis high school students received a vivid, up-close look at the dangers of drinking and driving and other dangerous behavior, Monday, at the State Fairgrounds.

Arsenal Tech Senior Arriyon Conner was covered in blood from head to toe and her half her body was through the front windshield of a totaled car which had been hit by a drunk driver.

Medics raced to her side and took her to the hospital.

Conner was acting, but says the experience of playing a victim made the incident feel very real.

"It was a lot more learning than actually hearing about it because you actually see it and you know what really happens," she said.  "It's kind of hard (to see)."

Indianapolis Police Department Chaplain Rick Castle says that is the goal.  He hopes students left with a better understanding of the consequences of poor decision making.

"The purpose of this exercise is to impress upon the high school freshman the necessity to be making very good decisions, not to do anything stupid or foolish  that would cause them to either go to jail or be seriously injured or even killed," said Castle. 

The first year event was called "Decision House 2013 – What Will You Decide?"  IMPD says about 1,000 students participated.

Ben Davis Sophomore Quintin Hatchett was another one of the victim actors.

He says he hopes the event sends a strong message to his peers about the dangers that come with risky behavior.

"Seeing it, you can see what really happens in real life," said Hatchett.  "If you listen to it, you are just hearing someone say something over and over again, but if you see it you can actual experience and see what it's like to see a person drink and drive and get killed and get hurt."