Every 15 Minutes: DUI Dangers To Be Grimly Taught In Murrieta Thursday

MURRIETA, CA — Every 15 minutes, someone dies in a DUI crash. That is the theory behind a reenactment to educate high school students in Murrieta on the danger of drinking or drugging while driving, according to the Murrieta Police Department. In actuality, the grim and often disturbing lessons of the day can stick with the students for years to come, Patch has learned.

This week's event starts just before noon Thursday on Murrieta Mesa High School grounds.

Murrieta police will lead the "Every 15 Minutes" program, and multiple other City and Riverside County Emergency Response agencies and local business sponsors will participate.

The department warned nearby residents that emergency vehicles would arrive with "lights and sirens" for the realistic reenactment. They said a brief helicopter landing and takeoff is also planned.

The "mock accident" will be witnessed by the entire sophomore, junior, and senior classes, who will witness the trauma that follows the tragedy from start to finish. Some of them and their families will be asked to participate.

We spoke with former students who have witnessed the presentation and parents whose children have participated in the event in the past. All said that this is a "highly charged, emotional presentation" that they will not soon forget.

That is the whole purpose of the program, according to Murrieta police.

"This emotionally charged program is designed to dramatically instill teenagers with the potentially dangerous consequences of drinking alcohol and using drugs," a spokesperson for the police department said. "This powerful program challenges students to think about drinking and drugs, safe operation of their automobiles, personal safety, and the responsibility of making mature decisions."

When you see a helicopter landing at the school to airlift a "victim," do not be alarmed, the police say.

"This entire event is a mock scene. There will be no actual emergency, and no students, faculty, or staff at the high school will be injured or in any danger during this staged program."

The program will conclude with a mock "funeral" presented at the sophomore, junior, and senior student body assembly the following day, shortly before noon.

Parents of a select group of students will "get the call" that their child has perished in a DUI crash. In previous programs, a fully dressed Grim Reaper will pull a handful of students from class.

Temecula mother Misty Barlow talked about a similar lesson taught when her son was asked to play a victim in 2009 at Chaparral High School.

"Even though you know the phone call is not real when you get it, your heart sinks, and you're so emotional," Barlow told Patch.

Former student Krystina Hasty discussed being "chosen" by the Grim Reaper at her "Every 15 Minutes" from that same presentation in 2009.

"I still remember this to this day," she told Patch. "My best friend and I both applied to be a part." She was selected as one of the students who would not survive the reenactment.

During her presentation, a police officer, the Grim Reaper, and the principal stood before her and drew her from the crowd.

"They read my obituary, and I walked out of the class, silent," she said. "The rest of the day, I had makeup on and couldn't talk to a single person. I was one of the 'walking dead.'"

Hasty says she remembers most of her parents having to write a letter as if she were gone. She has kept all of the letters and pictures from that day as a grim reminder of the life-changing experience, she said.

"When I read his handwritten letter, I balled like crazy," she said. Writing a letter to her parents was difficult, as well, she said. "To this day, I still have everything from the program, and I always remember that it's not worth it to drink and drive at any age."

For further information, contact the Every 15 Minutes Program Coordinator, Murrieta Mesa School Resource Officer Jen Metoyer of the Murrieta Police Department at 951-461-6398 or JMetoyer@MurrietaCA.gov.