Working cooperatively with the Police Dept. and the Fire Dept., Culver City High School will stage a dramatic drunken driving accident on Monday morning, complete with simulated student injuries and even a simulated death to drive home the message that drunk driving kills.
Even though this is a simulation, not a real incident, emergency personnel will be responding to the crash as if it were real.
As several hundred juniors and seniors look on, emergency responders will arrive at the “accident” and deal with it as they would a real crash, evaluating and arresting the drunken driver, transporting the injured to local hospitals and calling the coroner to deal with dead bodies.
As part of this event, Elenda Street will be closed from Braddock Street to Farragut Street from 9 until 10:30 in the morning.
Parking Restriction
Additionally, a portion of Franklin Street may also be impacted. Drivers are asked to not park cars along either side of Elenda Street during this time.
“We are hopeful that the Every 15 Minutes Program — named because someone is killed in the U.S. in a drunken driving accident every 15 minutes — will remind these students how deadly drinking and driving can be,” said Principal Pam Magee.
“Especially before the Prom. It is important to remind students that drinking and driving poses real-life risks.”
The Centers for Disease Control reports motor vehicle crashes as the leading cause of death for teens, accounting for more than one in three deaths in this age group.
In 2005, 4,544 teens ages 16 to 19 died of injuries caused by motor vehicle crashes. Twenty-three percent of teen drivers ages 15 to 20 that died had a blood alcohol content of 0.08 or higher.
Culver High, in conjunction with the police and fire departments, is taking a pro-active step by educating students about making mature decisions when alcoholic beverages are involved.
They Won’t Be Allowed to Forget
This staged accident will be followed throughout the day on Monday by a program reminding students of how many young people are killed in DUI-related accidents each year.
Four times each hour, a student will be taken from class and made up to look dead. The “body” will be returned by Culver City police who will read an obituary written by the “dead” student’s parents. For the rest of the day, that student will not speak to his/her classmates and will walk the halls on campus as the “Living Dead.”
On Tuesday, a moving student assembly will include comments from those who have lost loved ones in DUI accidents as well as from the parents and students involved in the Every 15 Minutes simulation.
“We hope this simulation and the emotional discussions that follow will drive home the message to students that drinking and driving is dangerous, that it has real-life consequences, not only for those who drink, but also for innocent victims and their families,” said Supt. Myrna Rivera Coté.
Funding for the Every 15 Minutes program is being provided through a grant from the California Highway Patrol and donations from local organizations, including Brotman Medical Center, the city of Culver City, the police and fire departments, Eagle Sports, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Santa Maria Barbecue and Sorrento Italian Market.
Mr. Maleman may be contacted at gmaleman@aol.com
