For the first time in almost a decade, La Mirada High presented a program made to raise awareness on how dangerous driving under the influence can be. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, from 2013 to 2022, 11,000 people died every year due to drunk-driving crashes.
The “Every 15 Minutes program” is an event in the span of two days that focuses on high school students and challenging them to think about drinking or using drugs, operating a motor vehicle, personal safety, and the responsibilities of making mature decisions. It also focuses on their decisions and the impact that it has on family, friends, communities, and many more. The program partnered with the Santa Fe Springs California Highway Patrol, the city of La Mirada, the school district, local hospitals, and emergency medical responders to validate the importance of how working together ensures a safe and healthy community. The realistic nature is designed to spread awareness causing it to come off as dramatic and emotional, purposely reminding teenagers of the choices they make and how quick the consequences of those choices can end in fatality. With the experience first hand of the scene, students had the opportunity to think about what they would do if ever in the situation of a car crash or drunk driving situation.
The first day followed the scene where the students were seated in front of the school to see the outcome of a car crash on Adelfa Drive. A 911 call was played on speakers for viewers to hear the panic and fear after a serious car accident. The police cars, fire trucks, and ambulances drove towards the accident with sirens blaring to aid the victims. While the paramedics checked out the scene, the firefighters figured out how to get the victims out of the cars. A few of the accessible victims were helped out and immediately checked for any injuries as those who are trapped in the car were treated. On one of the cars, a victim was laid flat on top of the car to stipulate that she flew through the windshield and sadly did not make it. When all of the survivors are properly checked, the one in most critical condition was simulated to be a medical evacuation via a helicopter to the hospital. At the end of the program for day one, a police officer shared how DUIs continue to happen without students even realizing it and how the problem can be stopped if drunk driving is eliminated once and for all.
According to Officer Zachery Salazar, who is part of the program, he emphasized,
The second day of the program began with the junior class president Taylor Baltazar welcoming all that came to the funeral, where the 27 students walked in wearing black and placed roses on the empty casket provided by White Emerson Mortuary. The La Mirada High choir sang as baby pictures of the “deceased” students played on the screen for the entire gymnasium. Officer Salazar introduced the program again and the loss of the students who are pronounced dead due to drunk driving. A video presentation, filmed and edited by student Samantha Torres was shown to go through the entire event leading up to the accident and then the funeral. Deputy District Attorney Britany Vannoy, who specializes in DUI training and prosecutes DUI cases, explained that she sees many cases where high school student’s lives are lost so young and can be fixed by not drinking and driving to protect the innocent lives of victims who unfortunately die every year caused by DUI. Speaker Miguel Wong-Rivera, the founder and director of the Dream Big Project, that is designed to financially support currently enrolled undergraduate students who experience a current emergency or crisis. Wong-Rivera shared his personal story of how he got into a car crash on the freeway as a result of driving under the influence. He explained that the crash not only caused him to be paralyzed but also took over his will to live. He was able to pull through that time and find purpose by founding an organization to help others and speaking to teens about the dangers of driving under the influence. Senior Monserrath Bahena, read her letter for her family, demonstrating the raw emotion as she dedicated it to her mother.
Mrs. Carolyn Grayson, La Mirada teacher, was in charge of the program and explained how future students could be a part of the program. A link was shared online for students in December and January. For prospective participants, a video was shared so students understand what the event entails. A lunch meeting then took place to explain what the Program’s purpose is and how everything works. Student’s phones are taken, they go to undisclosed locations, parent sign waivers and no one but teachers and administration involved know the details. A parent meeting also took place to inform the families all of the details for participation.
Alanna Garcia, who was one of the participants, shared that the 911 call was her first time hearing it and it made the event feel real. She explained that the program made her more aware that “drinking and driving affects so many people.” Like others, her experience in the staged car crash was “very real at the time” and affected her as a student driver herself. Ultimately, the students involved in the program feel that they did their part in spreading awareness to the consequences of driving under the influence.
The “living dead” students were: Aleeza Argumedo, Alyssa Avila, Monserrath Bahena, Ruby Chastine, Keasha Concepcion, Angelyna Conde, Maleah Diaz, Deacon Fileto, Kevin Fuentes, Jakob Galvan, Alanna Garcia, Jocelyn Hartley, Jon Holquin, Marco Lugo, Joshua Martinez, Logan Martinez, Brooke Medrano, Santos Muniz, Aiden Navarro, Christopher Prieto, Angelina Ratzlaff, Noah Rodriguez, Julissa Romo, Marcus Salazar, Amanda Urbina, Jeremiah Vancini, and Cynthia Wight.
(Staff Writer Kiley Diaz supported Markland in this feature article.)
