The Lima Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol recognized two Putnam County residents for wearing their seat belts, a decision that ultimately saved their lives. Brynne and Kristen Stechschulte received the "Saved by the Belt" award, which honors individuals whose choice to buckle up protected them during a crash.
June 2, 2024, Press Release from the Ohio State Highway Patrol: TOLEDO – The Findlay and Bucyrus districts of the Ohio State Highway Patrol teamed up with the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department (TLCHD), AAA and the Toledo Mud Hens for the 2024 Buckle Up – Batter Up “Saved by the Belt” event at Fifth Third Field. The “Saved by the Belt” Club is a joint effort by the Ohio Department of Public Safety and the Ohio State Highway Patrol, designed to recognize people who have benefited from their decision to wear safety belts. During a pregame ceremony on Saturday, 13 people joined the “Saved by the Belt” Club before a game between the Toledo Mud Hens and the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRaiders. The recipients were saved from sustaining life-threatening injuries in northwest Ohio crashes due to their decisions to wear safety belts. Each inductee was presented a “Saved by the Belt” certificate signed by Ohio Department of Public Safety Director Andy Wilson and Colonel Charles A. Jones, Patrol superintendent. In addition to the certificate, they also received a “Saved by the Belt” commemorative license plate.
Paulding resident Earl Chapman joined Ohio’s “Saved by the Belt” Club today after his safety belt saved him from sustaining life-threatening injuries. The crash occurred on State Route 637 at State Route 613 in Paulding County on June 25, 2022.
6/27/22- Press Release from the Ohio State Highway Patrol: Van Wert County – Van Wert resident Roderick K. Bowen joined Ohio’s “Saved by the B…
Samantha Spencer joined Ohio's "Saved by the Belt" club after her seat belt prevented her from getting seriously hurt or even killed during a crash on Napoleon Road on February 8th. She was presented with a certificate and a license plate bracket from the Ohio State Highway Patrol. They say in 2020, nearly 500 people were killed in Ohio traffic crashes and not wearing a seat belt.
The “Save by the Belt” Club is a joint effort with the Ohio Department of Public Safety and over 400 law enforcement agencies in the state. It brings awareness to accidents that could have turned out worse if seat belts were not worn. In 2019, over 450 Ohioans were killed in traffic crashes where a seat belt was not used.
Whether you’re driving two minutes or two hours, it’s state law to buckle up. Abiding by that law helped save one local woman’s life.
