In an effort to raise awareness toward the potential risks of operating a motor vehicle under the influence, the senior class at Hillsborough High School witnessed a staged alcohol-related car crash and experienced the repercussions and aftermath of the incident.
The demonstration, which took place on April 4-5, was part of the nationwide “Every 15 Minutes” program, which takes students on a realistic journey, showing the after effects of the accident including court room events and a memorial service. The emotionally-charged program aims to provide high school students a real-life experience without the real-life risks.
“The district is committed to the prevention education of drinking and distracted driving to ensure the health and safety of our students and community,” said Rebecca Balaguer, Hillsborough High School Student Assistance Counselor and the coordinator of the program. “This program could not be produced without numerous community supporters.”
With involvement and assistance from the University Hospital EMS NorthSTAR as well as, Hillsborough Township Police, Fire, RWJ University Hospital Somerset, RWJ Barnabas Mobile Health, Hillsborough Municipal Court, Hillsborough/Millstone Municipal Alliance and Safe Communities Coalition of Hunterdon and Somerset, the two-day simulation allowed students to see, first-hand, the events that occur immediately following an alcohol-related car accident and the impact these events have on those involved in the accident and their families and friends.
During the morning of April 4, activities took place within the school to emphasize the fact that someone is killed in an alcohol-related car accident every 15 minutes. In the afternoon, a simulated traffic accident was conducted at the high school.
The senior class and staff watched as emergency service members removed fatalities and injured students. Hillsborough Township Police simulated the arrest and booking of the guilty driver, the dead were taken to the morgue and the injured were taken to RWJ University Hospital Somerset.
Following the accident, the role-playing students participated in simulated courtroom events as well. All sequences were recorded by Hillsborough High School teacher James Arndt with the assistance of his advanced film students.
On the morning of April 5, the entire class reconvened in the auditorium to view the film as part of an emotionally charged memorial service for the students involved in the accident.
The “Every 15 Minutes” program is named because of the alarming statistic that every 15 minutes someone in the United States dies from an alcohol-related traffic collision. In the United States, high school students drive intoxicated about 2.4 million times each month and are 17 times more likely to be involved in a fatal car crash with alcohol in their systems.
To learn more about the “Every 15 Minutes” program, visit www.everyfifteenminutes.org.
