Fentanyl mock crash at Lakeland High School asks students to 'slow down for just a second and think'

RATHDRUM — After being extricated from the vehicle, Liam Bradford’s screams could be heard as his fellow students Friday at Lakeland High School watched the aftermath from a mock crash. 

In the scenario, Braydon Tirri, the driver of the vehicle had crashed due to a fentanyl overdose.

One person was taken away by Life Flight in the simulation as the deceased were taken away by Northern Lakes firefighters and Bell Tower Funeral Home staff.

“Braydon, you idiot,” Liam Bradford shouted.

“I’m sorry,” Tirri said.

Of the Bell Tower staff, Nick Brown said most people don’t realize how often these types of tragedies occur. 

“You see it all the time, unfortunately,” Brown said. 

Principal Jimmy Hoffman said he dreads even the mock crash each year because the likelihood of it becoming a reality to someone passing through the school is terrifying to him.

He asked students to pause before getting behind the wheel. 

“We need to get you to slow down for just a second and think,” Hoffman said.

Rev. Jared Cooksey, father of one of the victims in the scenario, Jace Cooksey, told the assembly about his feelings going through the motions of grief the exercise brought out in him.

“I felt as if I needed to officiate my own son’s funeral,” he said.

As a member of the local Fentanyl Task Force, Coeur d'Alene Police detective Eric Boardman said he was there to present information to appeal to students because the issue has grown too big to try and “arrest our way out of the problem.” 

A lethal overdose of fentanyl may be only two milligrams, comparable to the size of the tip of a pencil.

“Don’t be afraid of making mistakes. That’s how we grow. Just don’t make this one,” Boardman said.

   Paramedic Amanda Tams holds up Liam Bradford as he breaks down after being extricated from a vehicle at Lakeland High School during a mock crash involving fentanyl. Roan Reilly and Denise Novak try to comfort him in the wake of the simulated crash.
  

    Student Liam Bradford is helped out of the vehicle by Northern Lakes firefighters after being involved in a mock crash at Lakeland High School.

  

    Denise Novak, Liam Bradford and Roan Reilly watch as John Keating is covered for transport to Bell Tower Funeral Home after a mock crash Friday at Lakeland High School.