April 3, 2026 – Springfield, Massachusetts – The Hampden District Attorney’s Office welcomed approximately 150 students, parents, and community members to the Basketball Hall of Fame on Thursday, April 2 for the office’s annual Stop the Swerve event, an educational program focused on preventing distracted and impaired driving among young drivers.

The Stop the Swerve program featured a new, locally produced documentary by New York Sound and Motion examining the real-life consequences of distracted and impaired driving. The documentary tells the story of Jemyliana Vargas, a Springfield woman who was killed in a 2023 crash on Interstate 91 in Longmeadow after being thrown from a vehicle and struck by multiple vehicles. With the participation of her family, including her mother who appears in the film, the documentary aims to help young drivers understand how one decision on the road can affect families and communities forever.

Following the documentary, students who attended participated in interactive activities including driving simulators, impairment goggle exercises and a pedal cart challenge designed to demonstrate how distraction and impairment affect reaction time and decision-making behind the wheel. While students participated in these activities, parents and guardians attended a presentation provided by Assistant District Attorney Curtis Frick on Social Host Liability and the legal responsibilities associated with underage drinking.

A highlight of the evening was the announcement of the winners of the Stop the Swerve Public Service Announcement (PSA) Contest and Billboard Contest, where high school students from across Hampden County created original public safety campaigns focused on preventing distracted and impaired driving. Approximately 23 PSA videos and 60 billboard entries from 12 schools across the county were submitted. Winning schools receive prize money to support educational programming, with $2,500 awarded for first place, $1,000 for second place, $500 for third place, and $250 for honorable mentions.

PSA Contest Winners:

1st Place: “Potential Lost” by Liovanny Alvarado of Springfield Central High School.
2nd Place: “One Decision” by Rista Pradhan, Vanely Ortiz Colon, Daniel Stinchcomb, Michael Bordas, Rylan Murphy, Auly Dilone, Raheem Campbell, Yeraida Ruiz, Anaivelyn Rodriguez Diaz, Jon’carlos Rosario, Jeshuanys Quinones-Gautier, Quinton McMillian, and Victor Henry of Putnam Vocational Technical Academy.
3rd Place: “From Hand to Hand” by Aeesha Kibodya, Yomar Benitez, Honiel Bautista and Romeio Tiwari of Springfield Honors Academy.

Honorable Mentions: “Cartoon Life” by Hannah Corridan of Pope Francis Preparatory School and “Block Head” by Levi Noone of Pope Francis Preparatory School.

Billboard Contest Winners:

1st Place: “On the Line” by Allison Lak of Pope Francis Preparatory School.
2nd Place: “Which Will You Choose” by Adrianna Pingree of Springfield Central High School.
3rd Place: “A Deadly Combo” by Rachel Roblinski of Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical High School.

Honorable Mentions: “Undead” by Hannah Thifault of Pope Francis Preparatory School and “Don’t Press Your Luck” by Ainsley Petell of White Oak School. 

The first place PSA will be shared on 22 News and the Hampden District Attorney’s Office social media, and the first place billboard design will be displayed on a Lamar digital billboard in Hampden County, as well as shared on social media. 

District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni said the creativity and thoughtfulness shown by students each year continues to demonstrate how seriously young people are taking the responsibility of driving.

“My office investigates these crashes, we meet the families, and we see the consequences that last far beyond the day of the crash,” Gulluni said. “If students leave this event thinking differently about how they drive or how their friends drive, then this program is doing exactly what it’s supposed to do.”

The Stop the Swerve program is part of the Hampden District Attorney’s Office’s ongoing efforts to educate young drivers and prevent motor vehicle crashes through education, awareness, and community partnerships. To request a Stop the Swerve presentation in your school, contact Deputy Director of Community Safety and Outreach Gina Anselmo at gina.anselmo@mass.gov.