Published on April 25, 2025
Owensboro Students Confront the Reality of Impaired Driving in “Ghost Out” Event
OWENSBORO, Ky. - April 23, 2025 - Students at Owensboro High School were met by the sound of sirens as they gathered around a staged crash site this morning. What they witnessed was a sobering reenactment of the consequences of impaired and distracted driving.
Owensboro Health Regional Hospital, in partnership with local first responders and community organizations, hosted “Ghost Out” — a powerful event aimed at preventing teen deaths related to reckless driving. The initiative was designed to feel real because the risks teenagers face behind the wheel are very real. In 2023, Kentucky reported 828 traffic fatalities — the highest number since 2016. A significant portion of those killed were between the ages of 15 and 24.
The simulation began with a surprise crash scene in the high school’s north parking lot, complete with an emergency response from Owensboro Police, Fire Department, AMR and Air Evac. Students playing the roles of victims were removed from wrecked vehicles by first responders. Their peers looked on in silence as a student actor portraying a crash fatality was placed in a body bag.
The day continued at Owensboro Health Regional Hospital, where students stepped into the shoes of trauma patients and saw firsthand how physicians and the trauma team fight to save lives. Some staff took on emotional roles, including that of grieving family members receiving the worst possible news.
The program, developed by the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety, helps teens understand the stakes of impaired and distracted driving, especially ahead of prom and graduation season. With alcohol, speed and cell phones too often part of the equation, Ghost Out drives home a message that’s both unforgettable and necessary.
“This is one of the most powerful ways we can reach young people,” said Mike Mixson, a Director of Trauma Services at Owensboro Health. “We see the aftermath frequently in the trauma bay. If even one student makes a different choice because of what they saw today, it’s worth it.”
According to state data, 33% of crash fatalities in Kentucky involved speeding or aggressive driving. One in five involved distracted drivers. More than half of those killed weren’t wearing seat belts. Owensboro Health hopes that through events like Ghost Out, those numbers will start to shift.
Now in its tenth year, the program’s strength comes from collaboration, not only between law enforcement and emergency responders but also between community members and Owensboro Health team members who believe that prevention begins with education.
Check out this video of the day in action!
About Owensboro Health
Owensboro Health is a nonprofit health system with a mission to heal the sick and to improve the health of the communities it serves in Kentucky and Indiana. The system includes Owensboro Health Regional Hospital, nationally recognized for design, architecture and engineering; Owensboro Health Muhlenberg Community Hospital; Owensboro Health Twin Lakes Medical Center; the Owensboro Health Medical Group comprised of over 350 providers at more than 30 locations; three outpatient Healthplex facilities, a certified medical fitness facility, the Healthpark; a weight management program, and the Mitchell Memorial Cancer Center.
On average each year, we have more than 19,000 inpatient admissions, deliver 2,000 babies and provide the region’s only Level III NICU. Owensboro Health physicians perform nearly 33,000 surgical procedures, including nearly 150 open-heart surgeries. Our physicians and staff have 90,000 Emergency Department visits and more than 1.25 million outpatient visits annually. Visit our home page for more information.