‘Every 15 Minutes’ drunken driving simulation to be held at Liberty High

By Paul Takahashi

Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011 | 5:15 p.m.

Students from a Henderson high school will witness a simulated car crash on Thursday that will demonstrate the dangers associated with drinking and driving.

The Henderson Police Department, in conjunction with the Clark County School District and Henderson Fire Department, has been participating in the national “Every 15 Minutes” program since May 2001. Since its first event held at Foothill High School, more than 31,000 local students have participated in the two-day program, which illustrates how statistically, every 15 minutes a person dies from an alcohol-related car crash.

This year’s program will be held at Liberty High School. At 10 a.m. Thursday, juniors and seniors will watch a simulated car collision on Bermuda Road, west of the school.

Law enforcement and emergency medical services will respond to the scene where one student “dies,” a second student is airlifted to a hospital with “major injuries” and another student is taken to a hospital by ambulance. Police officers will give the teenage driver a field sobriety test and “arrest” the driver for DUI.

In addition to the simulated crash scene, a pre-selected student will “die” every 15 minutes throughout the day, representing the toll from fatal drunken driving accidents. The students will be removed from class and not return until after the two-day program is completed, according to a press release.

Friday morning, students will gather for a school-wide assembly to talk about the experience. A representative from the Henderson City Attorney’s Office will discuss with students about drunken driving laws.

“It’s very powerful,” said Henderson Police spokesman Todd Rasmussen. “It allows high school students to see first-hand the dramatic effects of drinking and driving accidents. Hopefully it causes them to use better judgment when driving.”