Booze, Cruise & You'll Lose

Don't Let Your Dreams Turn Into Nightmares

Mock presentations prove that drinking and driving not worth the risk

The Moundsville law firm of Gold, Khourey & Turak, working with school administrators from Bishop Donahue High School and Mount de Chantal Visitation Academy, members from the Wheeling Fire Department & Rescue, the Ohio County Sheriff's Department, Prosecuting Attorney, Scott Smith, and Judge James P. Mazzone highlighted the seriousness of the message, "Booze and Cruise, You'll Lose" to students at Bishop Donahue and Mount de Chantal in a two day presentation that involved a mock DUI crash and trial.

On Tuesday afternoon, more than 150 students, teachers, and parents from Bishop Donahue and Mount de Chantal assembled in the Mount de Chantal parking lot to witness a mock crash involving alcohol and the unfortunate death of Brittany Velasquez, a student at the Mount. Before arriving at the crash scene, a brief scenario was read to the students: On the night of the Graduation Dance for the Mount, and Prom Night for Bishop Donahue, Bishop student Philip Erickson decided to consume several cans of beer throughout the night before heading to the after-prom at Foggy Bottom. After leaving a party at another student's house, Erickson and several friends, D.J. Boston and Jerry Nolan were traveling West on Rt. 40 near Chicken Neck Hill when Erickson went left of center and smashed into a 1990 Gray Chevy Cavalier driven by Velasquez. Mount students Kellen Calinger, Michele Dufalla, and Micah Labishak were passengers in the vehicle with Velasquez. Labishak was paralyzed in the crash, while Velasquez was pronounced dead at the scene. The passengers in the Erickson vehicle suffered minor injuries and walked away with cuts and bruises.

Sgt. Dave McGlothlin and Deputy John Haglock of the Ohio County Sheriff's Department were first on scene. Shortly after, personnel from the Wheeling Fire Department and Rescue arrived. With lights and sirens sounding, this mock scene appeared to be a real emergency. In fact, the "Jaws of Life" were used to remove the passengers from the Velasquez vehicle. Bodies were placed in ambulances and field sobriety tests were performed. Witnesses were shocked and distraught at the crash scene. The driver, Erickson, was arrested and charged with DUI causing death. Many bystanders commented that the crash "was very educational", and proved more convincing than a lecture. Afterwards, the officers and emergency personnel had the opportunity to speak with the students and answer questions.

As in real life, the nightmare for those who decide to drink and drive doesn't end with just a crash. On Wednesday morning, students from both schools gathered in the Mount's music hall to witness Erickson stand trial for causing the death of Brittany Velaquez. Ohio County Circuit Court Judge, James P. Mazzone, presided over the case, while Christopher Turak from Gold, Khourey & Turak and Scott Smith, Ohio County Prosecutor, defended and prosecuted the case. Mount student Sarah Gutman served as co-counsel for the prosecution, while Wes Fetty, a student at Bishop Donahue assisted with the defense. The jury consisted of 6 students from Mount de Chantal and 6 students from Bishop Donahue.

Judge Mazzone conducted the trial as close to a real trial as possible. Witnesses were sworn in, reports, photos, and exhibits were entered into evidence, and objections heard, just as it would happen in a real court room. Prior to the jury deliberations, Prosecutor Scott Smith encouraged the students to remember the facts. "When you walked into this courtroom, you didn't leave your common sense at the door," offered Smith. "I encourage you to lay the facts on the table and you'll conclude that the only choice would be to return a verdict of guilty." In the end, the jury returned a verdict of guilty of DUI causing death. Before sentencing, Suzanne Velasquez, mother of the deceased, read a letter to the court that her daughter had written to her at the school's annual Mother-Daughter Banquet. Emotions were high and several in attendance cried as she read the letter. Judge Mazzone then ordered Erickson to serve 5 years in the West Virginia Penitentiary with no consideration for parole, the maximum sentenced allowed by law. Proceeding the trial, attorney Christopher Turak, who served as the defense attorney for the mock trial, offered, "The jury did a good job. This shows that the justice system does work. If you're going to participate in acts such as drinking and driving, you should be prepared to face the consequences."

Gold, Khourey & Turak is a personal injury law firm located in Moundsville who represents victims of drunk drivers. As the result of their firsthand experience, their hope is that these mock presentations will prove effective in deterring individuals from drinking and driving. Special thanks to Brandon Lahood and ACE Garage for supplying the vehicles, Wheeling Fire Department, Ohio County Sheriff's Department, Scott Smith, and Judge Mazzone.

Additional information about the mock accident and trial can be obtained by calling the law offices of Gold, Khourey and Turak at (304) 845-9750.