RATHDRUM — Though Lakeland Senior High School seniors knew the car crash involving their classmates in the campus parking lot was a demonstration, the feelings from witnessing such a scene were real.

“Seeing a crashed car, ‘dead’ people, and people that were seriously injured, was scary to watch,” said senior Bryson Wilson.

“We all know it’s fake, but it’s still so anxiety inducing,” said senior Rebekah Lewis. “It’s scary to see people you know on the ground (or) thrown through a car window, even if you don’t know them very well.”

Eight Lakeland seniors, along with personnel from the Northern Lakes Fire District, Rathdrum Police Department, Idaho State Police, Life Flight Network, Bell Tower Funeral Home and Schaffer’s Towing staged a mock DUI fatality crash Friday.

While the demonstration focused on alcohol-related impairment in previous years, this year the simulated crash was attributed to fentanyl impairment due to the drug’s increasing prevalence.

During the demonstration, two seniors "died" while four others — complete with special effects makeup — acted out serious injuries.

Biographies of each student involved were read out loud as the rest of the senior class watched in silence.

The remaining two were "arrested,” one for driving under the influence of fentanyl and the other for distributing the fentanyl.

“It gave me the thought of ‘that could be my friends’ and that really got to me,” said senior Aspen Wine.

“I realized how dangerous fentanyl could be, and I’d never wish that on anyone,” Wilson added.

For the participants, the demonstration was a chance to reach their peers.

“I’m doing this because I know it can make an impact on other people,” said senior Libby Hatcher, who was "injured" in the demonstration.

Northern Lakes Fire District Captain Fritz Wiedenhoff covers a mock DUI fatality crash "victim" with a sheet during Friday's demonstration at Lakeland Senior High School.

Senior Isaac Moore is "arrested" for distributing fentanyl during Friday's mock DUI fatality crash at Lakeland High School.

    Lakeland seniors watched in silence as their peers worked with area emergency personnel to simulate a DUI fatality crash on Friday.
  

Personnel from Northern Lakes Fire Department work to get "victims" out of a crashed vehicle, part of Friday's staged DUI fatality crash at Lakeland Senior High School.