Mega Doctor News
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – As the month of April is “Distracted Driving Awareness Month,” DHR Health’s Level 1 Trauma Center led efforts, together with several community partners, to organize the Shattered Dreams program, a nationwide initiative aimed at educating young drivers about the tragic consequences of driving under the influence. The special reenactment event was held for the first time at Rivera Early College High School with Brownsville ISD on April 10. Theater arts students from the high school were part of the powerful and emotional reenactment.
The event began early in the morning with a simulated motor vehicle accident in front of the school as students, parents, staff and faculty were arriving, where theater arts students portrayed victims of a drunk driving crash.
First responders, including City of Brownsville Police, Fire Department and EMS were on site treating the scene as a real life emergency, removing victims from the vehicles and transporting “injured” students and even placing the drunk driver under arrest. The real life scene left a haunting image that resonated with students watching the event in silence.
After the reenactment, all senior students gathered in the gym to hear powerful messages from guest speakers about the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs. Students heard from Dr. Jeffrey Skubic, DHR Health Level 1 Trauma Medical Director, Claudia Torres from Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), Cameron County District Attorney Luis Saenz, and Cameron County Sheriff Manuel Trevino, who brought an inmate who is currently serving time for a DWI-related offense. Students also participated in hands-on activities such as a DWI goggle simulator, hands-on CPR demonstrations, a tourniquet training station, pedal cars, cornhole, and a basketball challenge–each designed to demonstrate the serious effects of impaired driving and teach life-saving skills. Also at the event, students took a pledge to never get behind the wheel under the influence of alcohol or drugs, reinforcing their commitment to making safe and responsible choices.
From there on, the “Living Dead” students representing victims lost to impaired driving were periodically removed from classes by the “grim reaper” to symbolize how a life can be lost and the devastating impact of these tragedies.
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety website, from 2014 to 2023, more than 37 percent of traffic fatalities in Texas involved drivers impaired by alcohol or drugs. The majority of these fatalities occurred between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. on Saturday or Sunday. Driving under the influence (DUI) crash fatalities are highest among males between the ages of 19 and 35.
The DHR Health Level 1 Trauma Center Trauma Injury Prevention and Outreach representative Cassandra Bravo had been meeting school representatives and community partners since the Fall 2024 to plan and execute this program. The Level 1 Trauma Center would like to thank all those involved in this year’s shattered dreams program, these include: Brownsville Independent School District Police and Security, Rivera Early College High School, Principal Obed Leal and Raider Theatre students under the direction of teacher Nuria Rios, City of Brownsville Police Department and Fire Department, MADD organization, U.S. Border Patrol, TxDOT, Justice of Peace Mary Ester Sorola, and Valley Towing.
“As an alumni of Rivera High School, returning to present this message on distracted driving in a way that resonates with today’s generation—something impactful, thought-provoking, and unforgettable. Far too many lives are lost due to a moment of inattention or bad choices behind the wheel. My goal was to encourage these students to recognize the seriousness of their choices and to understand that even a split second can lead to irreversible consequences,” said Cassandra Bravo, DHR Health Trauma Injury Prevention and Outreach Trauma Services Coordinator.
As prom season approaches and summer break approaches, the DHR Health Level 1 Trauma Center reminds students and their families to make smart choices, speak up and never get behind the wheel while under the influence.
“Shattered dreams is such an important event, to help raise awareness for driving while intoxicated. At DHR Health, we see terrible life changing injuries related to motor vehicle collisions while intoxicated. This is especially important around high school graduation time! This event hasn’t been done in Brownsville in 30 years; we brought it back,” said Jeffrey Skubic, DHR Health Level 1 Trauma Center Medical Director and Trauma Surgeon.
