GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – Area Green Bay high school students spent part of their Thursday learning about the consequences of being distracted while behind the wheel.
The 90-minute reality based production called “Wrecked at the Weidner,” took place on the UWGB campus.
One of the speakers was Green Bay police officer Mike Knetzger. He hopes this event will help teens understand the life-long effects of the decisions they make today.
“The emphasis of course is on prevention but it’s a staged reenactment of ultimately what can happen when you are driving distracted.”
Knetzger also shared the very personal story of losing his daughter, Ashley, to a drunk driver in 2008.
“I do everything I can to always share that impact with the audience, because it’s one thing to see a reproduction, it’s another thing to live it and I try to bring that real-life experience to the table.”
Wesley Radloff is a student at Green Bay West and attended the event. He says it brought back some painful memories but was a great reminder of what he already doesn’t do while driving.
“My uncle went on a vacation once in New York and was killed by a drunk driver. I kind of blame myself because he got the idea of going on vacation to some other city from me,” said Radloff. “The choices you make behind the wheel will not only change your life but the people in the car with you and other people around.”
Professionals from the Green Bay Police Department, fire and rescue, HSHS St. Vincent Hospital, HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital Medical Center, and the court system were involved in the program.
“Wrecked at the Weidner,” which is in it’s first year, was fully sponsored by Hospital Sisters Health System- St. Vincent and St. Mary’s Hospital Medical Center.
