Every spring, the “Every 15 Minutes” program unfolds across high school campuses with dramatic flair. Crashed cars, student actors posing as victims, and grief-stricken parents read eulogies and obituaries for teens who aren’t gone. The goal is clear: to shake students into making safer choices behind the wheel.
But at Pasco High School, a disturbing pattern has emerged. Year after year, students who participate in the program, whether those who play the roles of the dead or injured, end up in real car crashes/accidents not long after the staged events.
It’s become the stuff of whispers and hallway conversations. Some call it a coincidence. Others wonder if the program is haunted by its preventable message.
We spoke with Mrs. Schneider, the program head, about these repeated incidents.
“Alright, so real talk for a second. No, I don’t think the program is cursed, and yeah, I probably shouldn’t have used that word in the first place.”
Here is what has happened, in a nutshell:
It’s not a curse. There have just been some wild, unfortunate coincidences involving a few students from past programs.
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In 2022, the student who played the “dead” girl was in a car accident the very next day. The crash looked much like the one we had staged in the program, but there was no drunk driver, and it wasn’t her fault.
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Then, in 2024, the student who played the “drunk driver” was also in a real crash later on. Again, very similar situation, but this time it involved an elderly driver, no alcohol, and again, not his fault.
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This year, one of the program’s students got into an accident, too, but he wasn’t even at the crash scene.
Schneider added, “So no, not cursed, just really unlucky timing. But I do think these situations show why we do this program. It’s not about scaring you, it’s about raising awareness. Driving is serious. Even if you’re doing everything right, you don’t know what the other driver is doing. They could be distracted. High. Drunk. Tired. Or just careless. I’ve literally pulled into the gym parking lot and parked next to someone in their car getting high, like, you can smell it. And I’m thinking, this person is about to drive. That’s terrifying. So take it seriously. Stay focused. Be a defensive driver. Because out on the road, you’re not just responsible for yourself, you’re trusting everyone around you, too.”
Ultimately, whether these accidents are eerie coincidences or tragic twists of fate, they underscore the message that the “Every 15 Minutes” program strives to deliver. The road is unpredictable, and the consequences of even a moment’s distraction can be devastating. At Pasco High, the unintended aftermath of the program has sparked conversations far beyond its intended impact, raising questions and fears that go deeper than the staged scenes. However, as Mrs. Schneider emphasized, the takeaway remains the same. That driving demands awareness, responsibility, and respect for the lives around you. These real-life incidents, while unsettling, are painful reminders of why this message matters now more than ever.
