Lane Co. SO release - Every 15 Minutes is a two-day under-age impaired driving prevention program centered around the statistic that someone in the United States is killed as the result of an alcohol-related crash every 15 minutes. While this exact statistic has fluctuated year-to-year, impairment-related collisions remain the leading cause of death among teenage youth.  This week on March 10th and 11th, the Lane County Sheriff’s Office, in conjunction with Lane Fire Authority, Lake Creek Fire & Rescue and the Blachly School District, took a proactive step in educating local high school students about making mature decisions around intoxicating substances and driving distractors.  On Tuesday, March 10th, students witnessed a mock car crash at the Triangle Lake Charter School. This staged car crash involves student occupants with a DUII driver, someone who is killed, and several injured subjects. Law enforcement, fire, and paramedics responded and worked the crash as they would any real crash.  On Wednesday, March 11th, the school held a community assembly in the gymnasium at the school. A representative from the Sheriff’s Office narrated the assembly, which included speakers who have lost loved ones to impaired driving crashes. The assembly also included a video made with the students involved in the crash: https://youtu.be/V8ZHqTzX6F0?si=HmEWfDcXwHIFm6fS  (NOTE: Video includes realistic depictions of injuries and blood)  The program challenges teens to think before using any impairing substances and operating any type of motor vehicle, or riding in one with an impaired operator. It also focuses on the impact those decisions have on family, friends, and the people left behind when someone is killed as a result of an impaired driving crash.