‘CHOICES’ set for fourth installment

The perils of distracted and drunk driving will again be driven home to Acadia Parish teenagers via the fourth annual CHOICES program, sponsored jointly by the Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Department and numerous supportive community agencies.
This year’s video production featuring a mock automobile accident in Rayne will involve 120 Acadia Parish high school students over a four-day period.
Production will begin on Sunday, March 15, with the filming of the mock accident to follow on Tuesday, March 17.
The students will participate in a retreat on Wednesday evening.
The video film will be presented at all parish high schools on Thursday and Friday. The program will also feature presentations by speakers whose lives have been impacted by distracted driving.
Liz Marks was in high school when she crashed her car while reading a text from her mother while driving. The accident left her blind in one eye, and diminished her ability to smell, hear and even fall asleep. She will be joined by her mother, Betty. The two produced a video, written from the perspective of the mother.
Reggie Shaw has the distinction of being the first driver in the U.S. charged with distracted driving. Shaw was texting while driving in 2006 and killed two men —rocket scientists in Utah with families – wives, children, brothers and sisters. His story is profiled in a book, “A Deadly Wandering – A Tale of Tragedy and Redemption in the Age of Attention.” It tells Reggie’s story and also the story of those who were affected by Reggie’s decision to text and drive.
Attorney Joel Feldman will relate how his daughter Casey, 21, was killed by a distracted driver in 2009. Her parents created The Casey Feldman Memorial Foundation and EndDD.org to honor Casey’s life and help stop the crashes and deaths caused by distracted driving.
Returning for a second year will be Jennifer Smith, an advocate against distracted driving since her mother was killed by a person talking on his cell phone while driving in 2008. She works everyday to educate the public about the dangers of cell phone use while driving as well as working with families who have lost loved ones in distracted driving tragedies.
On Thursday, the emotional laden programs directed at teen drivers will begin at Rayne High School at 8:15 a.m. Presentations will follow at Midland High at 10:30 a.m. and Church Point High at 1:15 p.m.
On Friday, March 20, the program will be presented at Crowley High School at 7:45 a.m., Iota High at 10 a.m. and at Notre Dame High at 1 p.m.
Coordinator Maxine Trahan, public information officer for the Sheriff’s Office, along with co-chairman Allen “Noochie” Credeur of the Rayne Police Department recently held a planning session with all participating agencies in the Rayne Fire Station’s hall to review the detailed schedule of events.