CRASH COURSE STUDENTS SEE DANGERS OF DRUNK DRIVING.

Byline: Greg Botonis Staff Writer

PALMDALE - More than 300 Palmdale High School seniors got a glimpse of the havoc a drunk driver can cause.

Two wrecked vehicles, teens in gory makeup, firefighters and sheriff's deputies enacted a mock car crash Thursday on the street in front of the school stadium and seniors were sent out to the fence to watch.

Today, students will watch video clips that will include talks by people who lost loved ones to drunk drivers, from firefighters and law-enforcement officers, as well as from a convicted drunk driver who spent five years in prison for killing a woman.

``We want them (the seniors) to know that their choices affect everyone, not just them,'' said 17-year-old Davion Chism, one of the student organizers.

``It's just to raise awareness,'' said 17-year-old organizer Sajae Davison. ``We know that everyone won't stop from drinking and driving but if it saves just one person, it's worth it.''

The program, which has become an annual occurrence at local high schools, is called Every 15 Minutes, for the frequency at which Americans die in drunk-driving crashes.

At Palmdale High, one student was pulled out of class every 15 minutes Thursday. The 15 teens were given black T-shirts and their faces were painted white and black.

They were to spend Thursday evening along with other participants in the crash at a hotel, listening to personal accounts about the impact of drunk driving. A videotape incorporating those accounts will be shown today to other students at Palmdale High.

At the mock crash, firefighters cut the roof from one of the wrecked vehicles to try to remove the made-up students inside.

The ``driver'' was given a field sobriety test and then taken to Lancaster sheriff's station's jail. Then he was brought into Antelope Valley Superior Court Judge Chris Estes' courtroom in a simulated arraignment.

One teen was taken by ambulance to Antelope Valley Hospital, where hospital staffers continued the role playing. Doctors and nurses rushed the teen into a room and after simulating life-saving efforts, pretended that she died. Family members get involved as well: The girl's parents will be told that she ``died'' on the table.

``We had one mother who knew all about what we were doing and was fine until she got here,'' Chism said. ``She just broke down.''

The mock crash included a costumed Grim Reaper and a hearse from Chapel of the Valley Mortuary passing slowly by.

``This isn't just law enforcement and the fire department,'' said Deputy John Rush, who heads Antelope Valley's campus deputy team and also helps the students organize the event each year. ``It's the whole community.''

``We have to drive home this message to these kids because we don't want this to happen,'' he said.

Davison, Chism and fellow senior Christopher Rodriguez began planning in October for the event.

CHP, the Sheriff's Department, Los Angeles County Fire Department, Chapel of the Valley Mortuary, the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office and American Medical Response ambulance services employees assisted in the simulated crash.

Hometown Buffet provided dinner for everyone involved. Clark and Howard tow company donated the wrecked vehicles.

Kern County sheriff's deputies watched as preparation for incorporating the program into DUI awareness campaigns at Kern County high schools.

``It's so creative and it really impacts people, not just the students but everybody involved,'' said Kelly Balch, 18, who assisted with the program. ``It's just such an awesome program.''

Greg Botonis, [phone]

gregory.botonis(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- 2 -- color) At right, firefighters check on the victims of a pretend drunk-driving crash; below, students portraying crash victims watch the demonstration along with teachers and other students.

Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer