Story by Melissa Lampert and Chris McCrory.

Students were given an up-close and personal look at the consequences of drinking and driving over the course of the two-day “Every 15 Minutes” program that began at Valencia High School on Wednesday.

Presented by local law enforcement agencies in partnership with the city of Santa Clarita, “Every 15 Minutes” is an emotionally-charged program designed to raise awareness about the consequences of drinking and driving, reckless driving and texting and driving.

Photo by Chris McCrory

A simulated traffic collision using vehicles from real crashes that occurred in the Santa Clarita Valley was set up in front of the school Wednesday, where a group of selected students played the roles of those involved.

Los Angeles County Fire Department personnel were on site working to “rescue” the student participants from the wreckage, which depicted two fatalities at the scene.

A third student — the passenger in the vehicle with the drunk driver — “died” on the way to the hospital, while the student playing the role of the driver was arrested and booked by law enforcement officials for driving under the influence.

“I just couldn’t believe how real (it seemed),” said Davis Ender, one of the participating students. “I knew, obviously, it was a simulation, but it felt very real to me.”

For Ariana Escala, one of the crash victims, the scariest part of the simulation was getting into the car and seeing the fake blood around her.

Photo by Chris McCrory

“You can feel your heart jumping out of your chest,” she said. “I think that in that moment, you just kind of leave it up to the professionals and the paramedics and the police department to do their job and get us out of there as safe as possible. But I kept imagining myself in a real situation, and it was really scary.”

Before the collision, numerous students and staff members were pulled out of their classrooms throughout the morning — one person every 15 minutes — to symbolize how often a life is lost to drunk driving.

The students later returned to class as the “living dead,” and were not allowed to speak or interact with other students for the rest of the school day. Memorials for the students are set up on campus as well.

“It was really hard looking at (the memorials),” said Abigayle Day, one of the “living dead” students. “It was just so uncomfortable and scary just seeing that.”

Photo by Chris McCrory

Ender added, “It was worse for me seeing my friends looking at it and their reactions… Seeing them all broken up about it is really what got to me more than anything, because out of nowhere, your friend can just die — no warning, no nothing.”

Participating students continued their experience by traveling to a real courtroom at the Santa Clarita Superior Court, where they watched the drunk driver’s simulated trial and conviction for manslaughter.

Related: ‘Every 15 Minutes’ Reminds Saugus High Students About The Dangers Of Drunk Driving

Parents of the students involved were also present at the court, and had the opportunity to make an impact statement against the drunk driver during the mock trial.

Photo by Chris McCrory

“The power of the impact statements from the parents, seeing the drunk driver, having the judge talk to the drunk driver — this stuff really sinks in at the court,” said Elizabeth Wilson, a Valencia High School assistant principal.

The driver was released to the school following the “conviction,” and the group then traveled to the Santa Clarita Youth Grove in Central Park, where they saw the numerous youth ages 24 and under who lost their lives in traffic-related incidents.

“The Youth Grove is not something that many of them go to (normally),” Wilson said. “They’ll see so many kids that we’ve had, and they’ll go and read the tree stumps and they’ll see what happened to them, so that’s very impactful.”

Following the Youth Grove, the group attends services at Eternal Valley Mortuary, where they have the chance to look into a real coffin with a mirror inside, seeing themselves reflected back.

A memorial ceremony will be held at the school on Thursday, where guest speakers will share their emotional experiences about loved ones that have been lost to drinking and driving.

Photo by Chris McCrory

Students participating in the program will also share letters they’ve written about their experience with their peers.

“It’s definitely going to stay with us the rest of our lives,” said Escala. “If it has any kind of impact on any other students on campus, or our family and friends, I think that’s all we can ask for, is to spread the word and raise awareness.”

Caley Mike, who is also playing the role of a crash victim, added, “I think once in awhile, everybody drives fast, everyone drives reckless, and the thought that it can happen at any single second to any person… I think that’s the craziest part. So this experience already has definitely impacted me to drive more safe.”

For Wilson and her fellow school administrators, the ultimate goal of the program is exactly that: spreading the message of the importance of safe choices.

“If we save one life,” she said, “then it’s been worth it.”