A simulated funeral is held for two Arab High School students killed in an simulated alcohol related wreck.  Photo by Dwight Hayes

April 9, 2008
Every 15 minutes someone is killed by a drunk driver in this country.  Every 15 minutes the lives of the survivors are changed by the drinking related crash.  Survivors injured in the crash may be scarred and crippled both physically and mentally for the rest of their lives.  Families and friends will have to deal with the loss of their loved one forever.  The drunk driver, if they survive, will face jail, loss of privileges and the remembrance of what they caused

As hundred of students watch, an injured teenager is cared for by Arab Fire and Rescue personnel during a simulated wreck in front of the Arab High School on Monday.                                                         Photo Special To Arab Today

While alcohol related collisions don't discriminate among those killed and injured, teenagers are particularly vulnerable this time of year as they celebrate proms and graduations.  Because of the increased risk at this time of the year, "Every 15 Minutes", a national program to teach teenagers about drunk driving, is presented to high school students across the country.  Arab High School students participated in the program this week.  Their prom is Saturday.  

Reality show comes to students
Monday morning students were called to the front parking lot of the Arab High School were and elaborate wreck scene involving a head on collision between two cars was staged.  Volunteers from the Arab Police Department, Arab Fire Rescue and Arab Rescue Squad and Arab High School students re-enacted exactly how such a scene would play out.

Two students "died" in the scene, others were injured and one was arrested for DUI. 

Back in the classroom, students were taken from a class every 15 minutes.  Their obituary was read and they returned to the class in white make-up and black clothing.  "Dead" students could have no interaction with other student from that point until the funeral on Tuesday.  They spent the night in a hotel separated from parents and family as a way to punctuate the loss.

On Tuesday the students gathered in the Arab High School auditorium for funerals for their friends.  Caskets draped with flowers and photos of the "dead" were carried into the auditorium by pall bearers and placed on the stage.  The two dead students read a letter to their parents that began "Dear mom and dad, someone in the United States dies from an alcohol related collision.  Today I died....   The student must finish the letter with things they wanted to tell their parents, but didn't get the chance.

Students also viewed a powerful video filmed earlier.  Selected students from all Marshall County high schools participated in the video.  Scenes from the video highlighted a high school prom, wreck scene, emergency room scene and jail and courtroom scene.

"Every 15 Minute" speaker Gary Zeleski spoke to the students.  Zeleski shared how his brother was killed by a drunk driver and how it had impacted his life and how thousands of peoples lives are affected each year by drinking and driving.