Los Amigos Students Witness the Effects of Drinking and Driving

Fountain Valley Police Department closed off Heil Avenue between Newhope Street and Harbor Boulevard Thursday due to an accident behind Los Amigos High School. A two-vehicle collision, involving five LAHS teens, left two severely wounded, two deceased and an intoxicated driver, who walked away unharmed.

From the sounds of the sirens, to the groans of injured victims, every noise from the actors’ microphones and the pre-recorded sounds were broadcasted through loud speakers. The accident scene was just a performance and while nobody was really injured, the simulated accident was one that could have happened.

The powerful reenactment, featuring the talents of LAHS students and staff, local police and fire officials, was part of the national program, “Every Fifteen Minutes,” conducted for the 14th year by Fountain Valley Police Department.  The focus is on educating high school juniors and seniors about the detrimental effects of drinking and driving. As explained by the program title, every fifteen minutes, a person dies as a result of an alcohol-related car accident according to national statistics.

LAHS Principal Robin Patterson hopes that EFM will be an event students will never forget. “What they see will hopefully make a strong enough impact that will last after high school,” she said. “Hopefully, this will help them make the right decision when the time comes.”

For junior Kathleen Vongsa, her journey of playing the role of a drunk driver has left lasting memories.

The tears from the performance were real, she said. “I just kept thinking about what if I had really killed my friends and how my parents were going to react,” Kathleen added. “I thought about what people were going to think of me now – I really put myself in that situation.”

Throughout the reenactment, the audience watched intensely and almost forgetting that the scene is staged. “You'll see the kids strolling in, relaxed, in the beginning, but a few minutes in and not a sound comes out of them,” said Patterson.

Also in the audience were also 16 “Living Dead” students, who were taken away by a Grim Reaper after their deaths were announced during class time.

The program continued Thursday afternoon when the 21 student participants visited a morgue, attended a DUI court case and were invited to stay at an overnight retreat to prepare for the following day.

On Friday, an assembly will be held to mourn for the “deceased.” A video, filmed on scene by Fountain Valley High School students, is shown while obituaries written by parents and "Dear Mom and Dad" letters written by students are shared.

Each year, LAHS and FVHS alternate in facilitating the event on their campuses. This year, student participants were chosen by LAHS administrators in November based on their ability to represent the student body. Rehersals began early January and pre-recording sounds and images started a few weeks after.

The program is estimated to cost $16,000 per year. With the help of state grants and community sponsors, the city is able to continue with the program each year.

Fountain Valey Police Sgt. Matt Sheppard said he hopes that teenagers will walk away with more awareness and spread the word to help prevent drunk driving. “If we touch one kid, we’ve done our job,” he said.