For the 24th consecutive year, high school students in Richland County will experience a mock crash just before prom season to show the dangers of driving under the influence. With the event coming up on April 23, the Mock Crash Coalition held tryouts for high school students interested in performing at the annual event.

Judy Villard-Overocker is the coordinator for the event and has been involved every year since she helped create the mock crash back in 1990. Over the years Villard-Overocker has seen many students audition for roles in the mock crash and says she is impressed every single year with the level of talent and enthusiasm.

"Every year I'm just amazed at how good they are and how excited they are." Villard-Overocker says.

A couple of the standouts at this years tryouts were Ontario's Gabrielle Woodard and Madison's Dakota Wise. This is the second year Woodard has participated in the event and she landed the big role of the fatal victim, who will come back to life and present a monologue after dying in the accident.

"You have to imagine like you're there and this is really happening." Woodard says. "Because this does happen to real people every day."

Wise agreed that you have to lose yourself in the role and that the message behind the event needs to be shared. "The audience just needs to see that drunk driving is not a joke, it's not funny." Says Wise. "And we need to spread the word."

The Mock Crash Coalition will meet twice more on March 21 and April 18 at the Longview Center before reheasing at the Richland County Fairgrounds April 22 for the April 23 event. High school juniors and seniors in Richland County are all invited to attend.