Central High students turn crash experience into safe-driving mission 

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) --  Two Central High School students are using a life-changing experience to inspire safer habits on the road. 

After being involved in a car accident this past June, Lily McClain and Wyatt Yegge decided they didn’t want any other teens—or even younger students—going through what they did. 

They’ve launched a safe-driving campaign, bringing their message directly into middle schools in St. Joseph. 

“We figure that middle schoolers would be a good target because as are going to be freshmen next year, they're going to be around a lot more teenage drivers, which are reckless and as well as starting to get their permits,” McClain said.  

McClain highlighted the importance of keeping devices away, seat belts on and slowing down while operating a vehicle.  

As part of the project, Wyatt and Lily visited Bode Middle School to share their story and keep students engaged with interactive games designed to teach safe driving habits. 

“Currently, all over the world, globally, 1.19 million people die from car wrecks a year. And so our goal is to just little by little knock that number down,” McClain said.  

Wyatt said their mission goes beyond simply sharing facts. For him, it’s about reaching students in a way that makes them want to care about safe driving. 

His hope for younger kids is to walk away understanding the responsibility that comes with being behind the wheel — and that they start building good habits long before they ever get their own license. 

“Have them learn about the dangers of being behind a wheel. The dangers of just driving in general and how to be as safe as possible because it is a big, important step in all of their lives,” Yegge said.  

Their presentation will include information about accident statistics, legal repercussions and related car insurance issues.  

The biggest takeaway for students today? Slow down, buckle up and keep any distractions out of the driver’s seat.