Oxford High School will host two safe driving awareness sessions next week in response to two recent violent car accidents that involved students.
One occurred Monday, when student Anthony Inzitari crashed on Route 188 near Carriage Drive. Inzitari remains in critical condition at Saint Raphael Hospital in New Haven.
His friends have set up a Facebook page in a show of support for the injured teen.
The other happened on Nov. 17, when a car with four teens crashed into a utility pole on O’Neill Road.
“To have two violent accidents — one where a young man is in very critical condition, and the other where we have a young lady with serious injuries — we can’t just ignore it,” said Interim Superintendent of Schools James Connelly.
So the school district and Resident State Trooper Sgt. Dan Semosky have planned awareness workshops at Oxford High School next week.
Students who drive to school will be required to attend a safe driving course hosted by the state police and an impact panel hosted by Mourning Parents Act, Inc. in order to keep their parking permits, Connelly said.
The state police course will review driving procedures and laws. The impact panel will provide students a chance to hear from families affected by car accidents.
Sgt. Semosky was unable to be reached for comment Tuesday afternoon.
State police plan to increase patrols around the high school as well, looking for seat belt violations and drivers using cell phones, Connelly said.
Connelly said about 100 students currently have parking permits at the high school.
He hopes to continue the safe driving courses each year as a requirement for students to receive their parking permits.
“We have a difficult situation here,” Connelly said. “We’re just trying to think outside the box.”
