‘Every 15 Minutes’ program offers Valencia High Students a glimpse at the dangerous realities when drunk drivers get behind the wheel.

Dickason Drive will be closed between Decoro Drive and Smyth Drive between 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., according to Los Angeles County sheriff’s officials.

Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station, the City of Santa Clarita, the Los Angeles County Fire Department and Valencia High School officials  partnered up to hold the “Every 15 Minutes” program at Valencia High School, Tuesday, Feb 20.

The two-day event is a simulation that shows the dangers of drinking and driving and reckless driving, and is to show young students the outcome of making poor decisions.    “The program will challenge students to think about personal safety and the responsibility of making mature decisions — particularly those related to reckless driving, speed contests, drinking alcohol, using drugs and driving, and distracted driving,” said LASD officials.

Throughout the morning, every 15 minutes, unexpectedly, a student will be removed from their class resembling being killed from a DUI suspect, according to officials.

Related: Every 15 Minutes Program Challenges Saugus Teens To Think Twice About Drinking And Driving

“They will be joined by other student program participants at a driving under the influence (D.U.I.) simulated collision scene, which will be set up near the school for students to view, depicting fatalities and serious injuries,” said officials. “During many of the programs, the Air-5 rescue helicopter from LASD’s Aero Bureau is used to simulate an airlift of a critically injured student to a local hospital.”

Others injured in the traffic collision will be treated at the scene by the Los Angeles County Fire Department and taken to a local hospital.

The acting DUI suspect will be arrested, and taken to the Santa Clarita Superior Court, where a simulated conviction for manslaughter will occur.

After the simulation and the court visit is over, the program participants are scheduled to visit the Santa Clarita Valley Youth Grove at Central Park, and the Eternal Valley Mortuary.

Tuesday night, the participants are set to have dinner at a local hotel where community members are set to relive the tragic days when they lost a loved one to a DUI incident.

Ally Shipman, Valencia High student and ‘living dead’ volunteer performer, volunteered to provoke thought in peers and help make an impact in teen related DUI’s.

“I think I can make a really big impact, on high (schoolers) today I know drinking and driving is a huge problem.” said Shipman, ” I think if some of the kids could see what it’s like to loose a friend or a classmate in one of these crashes, make a really huge impact.

On Wednesday, the acting victims’ parents are also set to receive a letter from their child that is set to start with “Yesterday I was killed by a drunk driver and I never got to tell you…”

On Wednesday, the juniors and seniors at Valencia High School are scheduled to attend an assembly where guest speakers who had family members killed locally in traffic collisions are set to share their stories of losing a loved one to a DUI accident.

Kiya Baker, recognized, although the program is a simulation and no one actually died, the thought of losing a friend is disturbing.

“It’s crazy actually thinking that one of these people are actually dead,” said Baker, ” To even see it and get that feeling it’s really heartbreaking, almost, tormenting.”

John Costanzo, Valencia High School principal, spoke to his  student audience at the end of the presentation and reminded them the possibilities of being an innocent by standard in a DUI involved accident.

“Well I’ve had involvement with this program since the late 90 early 2000’s at Saugus High School, when I first saw it,” said Costanzo, ” It reminds us….. all of us, students, staff, parents…. makeing good decisions when we’re out there, because at any given time something can happen.”

The “Every 15 Minute” Program is funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the California Highway Patrol and the City of Santa Clarita.

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