By Diane Kim, Cypress High School, Grade 11
May 31, 2011
On May 19, Cypress High School juniors and seniors gathered around a mock auto accident scene in the school parking lot for an event known as “Every 15 Minutes.” Two cars were overturned and five students were positioned to appear as though injured or dead. Shortly after students were released from their classes to assemble for the event, real city ambulances, fire trucks, and police cars arrived to simulate the aftermath of the accident.
Victoria Bustos, who played the role of the drunk driver, was audibly questioned by police about the details of the incident so that the audience could follow the narrative of the accident. Of the five students, three had been killed, while Bustos and the other driver managed to survive.
With prom just a few days away, the event had a discernible impact on the students. “After seeing such a powerful demonstration, I am thoroughly convinced I will never drink and drive. What if that was me?” said Salley Park, junior.
In this live-action scenario, students were able to witness the immediate consequences of what would happen in the event of a drunk-driving incident: from the deaths of their friends to criminal charges being brought down on the perpetrator.
The program also staged a mock memorial service the following day where the mother of a “victim” gave a speech, eulogizing her daughter. The service featured a short video showing what had happened leading up to the crash as well as a slideshow of the deceased.
“Even though it wasn’t real, it was really depressing and sad. I can still feel the tension being beside the accident, and it was very serious,” said senior David Ye.
In the background of the accident, students could also see a costumed grim reaper with a line of 14 pale-faced students, who had volunteered to represent the dead. “Every 15 Minutes” is based on the statistic that someone dies from an alcohol-related accident every 15 minutes.
Earlier in the day these students had been taken out of class, one student every 15 minutes, to symbolize this statistic. A policeman came inside the classroom and read a short biography of the student as he or she left; while another policeman drew an outline of a human figure in chalk on the floor of the classroom.
“It was cool how everyone was dressed up and the makeup for the dead was so realistic. I had someone “die” in my Chemistry class, and I was really shocked.” said Emily Rhee, sophomore.
This event was hosted by teachers David Lewis and Jeff Russell. People who wanted to participate had to turn in an application and be personally picked by these two teachers at the beginning of the year. This event required a commitment of a lunch meeting every week to make sure the process went smoothly.
