On March 20th through 21st, Pitman High held Every 15 Minutes. This program is made to discourage students from drinking and driving, it shows the harsh realities that could be the consequence of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The Turlock Police Department and Fire Department assist the school to host this program.
Students were asked to head out to the field and sit upon the bleachers. The exhibit literally started with a bang, as a small explosion went off between the cars. Two brutally totaled vehicles were on the field, Angelica Harding (12) and Ramon Martinez (12) in one, and Logan Wolfley (12) and Shakia Collins (12) in the other. It was a bloody scene, Martinez and Harding injured and trapped in the vehicle, Collins draped across the hood, Wolfley exiting the vehicle distraught over accident his decisions had caused.
The police department and fired department quickly arrived on the scene, Wolfley was taken to the side by the police and asked to sit down. Martinez and Harding’s car was cut open so they could easily be removed. Harding was taken out first with an apparent neck injury. A helicopter then landed on the field, and she was air lifted out of the school.
Martinez was removed and placed on a gurney, sustaining injury to his lungs and organs. He was carted off to the ambulance.
Once the injured were taken from the scene, the police dealt with Wolfley. He was asked to complete a variety of sobriety tests which he failed. He then had to provide a Breathalyzer test, and his blood alcohol level proved to be far above the legal limit. He was then arrested and placed in the squad car.
As they drove way, Collins (who was announced dead on arrival) was put into a body bag and taken to the morgue, provoking many tears from the audience.
The first day ended with the reading of Collin’s eulogy to the somber crowd. For the rest of the day, every 15 minutes a student was taken from class by the Grim Reaper. This was to demonstrate the statistic that every 15 minutes someone is injured or killed as a result of drunk driving. The Grim Reaper would proud 3 times upon the door before entering. Once he entered, he would take the student, and the teacher would proceed to read a eulogy for the student.
The police proceeded to go to the student’s houses and inform their parents of their untimely death. The students then spent the night in a hotel, with the assistance of chaperons and counselors, reflecting on their death and the resulting tragedy of drunk driving. Wolfley was booked and spent the night in jail.
The day proceeding, March 21st, was the day of the funerals. Students were taken to the auditorium where the ‘living dead’ awaited to read the letters they wrote to their friends and family. This occurred on prom night, a shocking and memorable was to warn students of the dangers of prom night, and encourage them to stay safe.
