Imperial Highway Lanes to Close for ‘Every 15 Minutes’ Program

The Lynwood City Council has approved unanimously a request made by Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) to close part of Imperial Highway on April 11 to carry out the Every 15 Minutes Emergency exercise.  The latter is a national educational program that takes aim at keeping youth from driving under the influence.

“We stage an emergency response right by Lynwood High-School,” said Lieutenant Ernie Chavez of the LASD. “Its not just the Sheriff’s Department, but also the Los Angeles County Fire Department, an ambulance from St. Francis Medical Center, a Superior Court Judge and a local mortuary.”

The street is to be closed between Jackson Avenue and Sampson Avenue from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  Students are to witness and participate in the play like emergency response drill.

“It is a mock up, a demonstration of an accident that can happen when a person gets behind the wheel under the influence,” said Marisela Santana, public information officer for the city of Lynwood. “ It looks very real.”

Santana went on to say that high-school juniors and seniors across the nation carry out this presentation before prom season.

The city will provide the LASD with cones, barricades and staff to help out with the closure.

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