PLEASE NOTE: The following story and photos depict a mock scenario called Operation Prom Night, designed to show teenagers the real-life consequences of impaired driving. Created by a 40-member committee of local first responders, the simulation portrays the aftermath of a graphic, realistic head-on collision. It includes law enforcement officers, ambulances, fire trucks, an ODOT sign flashing “Fatal Crash, Road Closed,” and an Airlink helicopter. While the names and participants — students and a teacher — are real, the crash, injuries, and deaths are not real.

Simulation portrays consequences of drinking and driving crash

May 1, 2025 / The mock scenario was strikingly realistic. It portrayed a two-car crash on Old Midland Road involving four high school seniors — two from Lost River Junior/Senior High School and two from Mazama High School — who had attended prom together. Before heading to an after-prom party, the group drank beer.

The driver, despite drinking, insisted he was fine to drive. As their car traveled down Old Midland Road, he unknowingly veered into the oncoming lane—directly toward a car driven by a Mazama Spanish teacher, who was returning home after picking up her niece and a friend. Her response was delayed because she was answering her cell phone.

More than 1,000 students from Lost River and Mazama High Schools watched from the Viking Stadium stands as the tragic scenario unfolded: two classmates and a teacher died at the scene, a third student died en route to the hospital via helicopter, and a fourth was left paralyzed. The teacher’s niece, who was wearing a seatbelt, suffered minor injuries, and the impaired driver was physically unharmed. For more photos: Operation Prom Night

The one-hour presentation included narration and real-time responses from emergency medical technicians, sheriff’s deputies, state police, and Sky Lakes Medical Center personnel. Student actors were extracted from vehicles, treated, and transported by ambulance and helicopter. Parent volunteers portrayed grieving family members, notified of their children's "deaths" and injuries. The driver was subjected to a field sobriety test, handcuffed, and arrested.

Large cardboard headstones marked the “deceased,” while family and friends mourned.

Klamath County District Attorney David Schutt spoke to students about the legal consequences the 18-year-old driver would face: four counts of first-degree manslaughter, second- and fourth-degree assault, DUII, and reckless driving. After time in jail awaiting trial, he would serve 49 years in prison—released at age 67.

“His life essentially ended the day he chose to drink and drive and ended the lives of four others,” Schutt said.

Students also heard from Amanda Hirschbock, a 2006 Mazama High School graduate who is now in a wheelchair. In 2013, after drinking at a wedding near Bonanza, she and her boyfriend drove home. Her pickup went off the road near the Olene Store on Highway 140 East and rolled 75 feet. She wasn’t wearing a seatbelt and was left paralyzed.

“I made the selfish choice to think I was OK to drive,” Hirschbock told the students. “That choice changed my life forever.” She is now a member of the Operation Prom Night Committee.

Lost River senior Kayden Hartman, whose character was paralyzed in the reenactment, said the experience was deeply personal. “I lost a friend in a drunk driving accident two years ago,” he said. “It was good to be able to show everyone what can happen.”

Mazama senior London O’Brien played the front seat passenger in the teen-driven vehicle and “died” at the scene. “This really hit home,” said O’Brien, who has committed to playing college softball at Umpqua Community College next year. The impact was especially meaningful for her—on April 18, a UCC softball coach and player were killed when an impaired driver crossed the center line and hit their vehicle.

Mazama junior Hannah Loder, watching from the stadium stands, said the reenactment felt very real. “It was really hard to watch, especially with my classmates being part of it,” she said. “It makes it more real to me.”

Mazama Principal Jennifer Hawkins and Lost River Principal Jana Dunlea said they hope the event leaves a lasting impression.

“It’s an intense presentation, and it’s meant to be,” said Hawkins. “I hope my students heard and understood the message. If even a few make a wise choice because of it, it was worth it.”

Dunlea agreed. “If it makes even one student think twice and make a better decision, it’s all worth it,” she said. “It was really impactful for our students to see their classmates involved. They didn’t expect that. I also appreciate the focus on texting and cell phone use—those are real dangers for teens.”

Operation Prom Night was founded in 2010 by Klamath County first responders and law enforcement. The simulation is rotated among local high schools each year. The May 1 presentation at Mazama was the first since the pandemic. This year’s event was coordinated by Captain Ryan Meyer of Klamath County Fire District No. 1. Student actors rehearsed their roles the Sunday before.

“One of the few differences between Operation Prom Night and a real incident is that the ‘victims’ are able to walk away,” the organizing committee said in a written statement. “Its purpose is to remind teens that driving while impaired, driving using cell phones, and texting while driving can end in disaster and claim innocent lives.”

Participating agencies included the DUII Task Force, Klamath County Fire Districts No. 1 and No. 4, Merrill Fire Department, Basin Ambulance, Klamath Falls Police Department, Klamath County Sheriff’s Office, Oregon State Police, Klamath County District Attorney’s Office, Airlink, Sky Lakes Medical Center, and the Oregon Department of Transportation. Additional support came from O’Hair-Wards Funeral Chapel, and Arrowhead Towing.