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"Dear Mom and Dad, every fifteen minutes someone in the United States dies from an alcohol related traffic collision, and today I died. I never had the chance to tell you......."

It may seem strange to get a letter like this from your child, but across the country thousands of high school students are writing these letters and participating in The Every 15 Minutes Program. The alcohol education program started in 1995, with a two day agenda that educated students about drinking, driving, personal safety, and the responsibility of making mature decisions.

A man who is not even of the legal drinking age has been charged with one felony count of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence while intoxicated, the Orange County Register reports. The charge is in connection with a fatal drunk driving accident that left 24-year-old Jesus Avalos-Munguia dead at the scene on March 6, 2010. The incident occurred at approximately 2:45 a.m.

Rigoberto Mendozamora, 20, has been accused of driving under the influence and speeding on Pacific Coast Highway in Dana Point. Mr. Avalos-Munguia was a passenger in Mr. Mendozamora’s Honda sedan, which crashed into a tree near Green Lantern Street. Another passenger named Daniel Higuera was taken to the hospital after the collision to be treated for lacerations and abrasions to his face and body, neck pain, and other possible injuries.

Laguna Hills High School in Orange County will be holding the drunken-driving awareness program "Every 15 Minutes" on February 18, but on Tuesday night Laguna Hills city council members proved at a meeting that they might not be in full support of the program due to extra costs and disturbances.

Through the program, students and school officials were hoping to simulate an actual crash on Laguna Hills Drive because the situation would have a large impact on students and passerbys. They felt a striking image in town would discourage students from drinking and driving. Some council members said that the estimated cost of $6,000 and the possible disturbance to neighbors would be uncalled for. Now, Laguna Hills High School will still be simulating a crash, but in the high school parking lot.

Los Angeles drivers may have another thing to be afraid of. Barron Hilton, the younger brother of Paris Hilton, got his driver's license back earlier this week.

The 20 year old had his license suspended in 2008, after he pleaded no contest to a DUI charge. He was placed on three years probation and was not able to drive for a full year. On Tuesday, Hilton took had to re-take the written portion of the driver's test, but passed. Now he's back on the road.

A sober New Years Eve can be fun, especially if you’re a teenager living in San Bernardino County. 

Los Angeles law enforcers say that in a collision between a car and cyclist, the person driving the vehicle usually suffers minor or no injuries, while the person on the bike is often found dead or paralyzed.