Some Sacramento-area high school students are getting a powerful safety lesson that goes far beyond the classroom.At John F. Kennedy High School, hundreds of students watched a staged crash scene as part of the “Every 15 Minutes” program, organized by the California Highway Patrol to highlight the real-life consequences of drunk and distracted driving.This marks only the second time the program has been brought to a Sacramento-area high school since the COVID-19 pandemic, making it a rare opportunity for students to experience the impactful demonstration firsthand. Organizers say a grant is covering the program’s $15,000 cost.The demonstration unfolded like a real emergency. First responders rushed to the scene, treating injured “victims,” while a coroner arrived and officers arrested an 18-year-old driver as part of the simulation.The goal is to make the dangers feel real — and unforgettable.CHP Officer Michael Harper said that by showing students how quickly lives can change, they hope teens will think twice before getting behind the wheel impaired or distracted.The program continues tomorrow with a mock funeral at Kennedy High School, reinforcing the emotional impact of the exercise.The “Every 15 Minutes” program gets its name from a once-common statistic — that someone in the United States was killed in an alcohol-related crash every 15 minutes. While safety campaigns have helped improve those numbers over time, authorities say the risk remains.According to the CHP, teens now die in a crash about every 35 minutes nationwide — a reminder that the message is still as urgent as ever.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

Some Sacramento-area high school students are getting a powerful safety lesson that goes far beyond the classroom.

At John F. Kennedy High School, hundreds of students watched a staged crash scene as part of the “Every 15 Minutes” program, organized by the California Highway Patrol to highlight the real-life consequences of drunk and distracted driving.

This marks only the second time the program has been brought to a Sacramento-area high school since the COVID-19 pandemic, making it a rare opportunity for students to experience the impactful demonstration firsthand. Organizers say a grant is covering the program’s $15,000 cost.

The demonstration unfolded like a real emergency. First responders rushed to the scene, treating injured “victims,” while a coroner arrived and officers arrested an 18-year-old driver as part of the simulation.

The goal is to make the dangers feel real — and unforgettable.

CHP Officer Michael Harper said that by showing students how quickly lives can change, they hope teens will think twice before getting behind the wheel impaired or distracted.

The program continues tomorrow with a mock funeral at Kennedy High School, reinforcing the emotional impact of the exercise.

The “Every 15 Minutes” program gets its name from a once-common statistic — that someone in the United States was killed in an alcohol-related crash every 15 minutes. While safety campaigns have helped improve those numbers over time, authorities say the risk remains.

According to the CHP, teens now die in a crash about every 35 minutes nationwide — a reminder that the message is still as urgent as ever.

See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel