Photos Provided Bridgeport High School senior McKayla Pants, fifth from left, wins a hockey stick signed by members of the Wheeling Nailers during a Booze, Cruise, You Lose presentation.

Bridgeport High School students participate in a question-and-answer session during a Booze, Cruise, You Lose presentation. They learned the dangers and legal consequences of driving while impaired.

BRIDGEPORT — Students heard a timely message about the dangers of driving under the influence when the Booze, Cruise, You Lose presentation stopped at Bridgeport High School.

Christian Turak of Gold, Khourey and Turak personal injury law firm in Moundsville led the presentation earlier this month. He said his firm has been talking to high school students since the 1990s. As a personal injury firm, the attorneys see the ramifications of drinking and driving, and Turak said they wanted to reach out to young people.

“What we’re trying to do is share information with the students. When they’re faced with the situations that they’re going to be in, they can make the right decisions for themselves,” he said. “We want to illustrate certain situations that they might be in.”

The presentation took the form of an interactive quiz format, where students used their iPads to answer questions about driving under the influence. A question-and-answer period followed.

“Our goal here is to strike up a conversation so that we can engage with students and really reach them,” Turak said.

“The message is: You’re not kids anymore. You’re young adults. You’re going to be 18 soon if you’re not 18 now. You’re going to be making adult decisions,” he said. “You need the information to make the right decisions for yourself.”

He asked them to take action if they are at a party without adult supervision and they see someone about to drive impaired, or if someone has passed out.

“Look out for each other,” he added.

D.J. Abisalih, the “Voice of the Wheeling Nailers” hockey team, joined in and asked students to explain their answers as part of the interactive program. The fun approach encouraged the students to participate. He said the goal is to help them put their decisions into perspective by considering the consequences.

“It’s not pounding something into their heads necessarily … get them to think through the different processes so they can make smart decisions in life,” he said. “I’ve actually learned a lot from the kids, because they’ll come up with questions you don’t really necessarily think about, and hearing the officers and the lawyers explain that and talk through it means they’re thinking through the program.”

He said Bridgeport was a natural choice when considering which districts to visit this year.

“We came to Bridgeport with the program two years ago,” Abisalih said. “The kids were so, so positive and just wanting to be part of what we were doing here.”

He was impressed by the quality of engagement during this visit.

“They gave us a great audience. They’re willing to participate a lot. Bridgeport’s one that we are so happy to do every couple of years here and trying to impact as many kids as we possibly can.”

Senior McKayla Pants received a signed hockey stick from the Nailers.

Guests also included WTOV9, Belmont County Prosecutor Kevin Flanagan and Trooper Dan Moran from the St. Clairsville post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

Flanagan elaborated on legal details, adding that people can be charged for being in control of a vehicle without driving or for operating other vehicles besides a car while impaired, or even riding a horse while intoxicated.

Flanagan also said an OVI offense as a juvenile is not sealed after they turn 18. An OVI will also hurt their employment prospects and result in higher insurance costs, as well as damaging their reputation.

Afterward, Flanagan commended the initiative.

“The students get so much from this program, and the Belmont County Prosecutor’s Office appreciates being part of it,” he said.

Moran called up student volunteers and demonstrated field sobriety tests while a student wore goggles to simulate the effects of impairment on vision and balance. He concluded with a mock arrest.

Moran said the hardest part of his job is telling a family their loved one has been killed in an accident.

The presentation also featured an overview of proper behavior when pulled over, such as keeping hands visible on the steering wheel and having the driver’s license and insurance and registration information ready.

Junior Cy Booth was among the students who took the presentation to heart.

“Really didn’t know you couldn’t ride a horse drunk. He did give us some inspiring advice and made it a fun way to learn about not drinking and driving,” Booth said.

High school Principal Jack Fisher thanked the guests. He said they gave his students some valuable information to think about, and the message of considering their choices and looking out for each other resonated with the spirit of Bulldog school culture.

“It’s great information for kids to have,” he said. “Obviously in these situations if you make a mistake, it can have some pretty big consequences. Some of the least of the consequences is ending up in jail. This is some good information. I’m glad they come here and do this for us. They make it fun and entertaining. The kids were engaged.”