CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — In separate incidents, Ross County residents Kasie Redman, Bentley Haller, Joshua A. Tackett, and Canal Winchester resident Beverly Leeman joined Ohio’s “Saved by the Belt” Club this May and August respectively, a distinction recognized by the Ohio Department of Public Safety and local law enforcement. The club acknowledges individuals whose lives were notably spared in traffic accidents thanks to their decision of wearing a safety belt.
On May 11, a crash on Williamsport Pike in Ross County put the safety decisions of Redman and Haller to the test, which they passed with flying colors. Their safety belts prevented life-threatening injuries. They were honored in a small ceremony where Ohio State Highway Patrol Sergeant Christopher J. Finley, Chillicothe Post Commander, handed them a “Saved by the Belt” certificate signed by Ohio Department of Public Safety Director Andy Wilson and Colonel Charles A. Jones, Patrol Superintendent. “Kasie and Bentley are a living testimony to the effectiveness of safety belts,” Finley commended.
Later in the month, on May 31, a similar incident occurred involving Minford resident Joshua A. Tackett on US 23 in Ross County. His adherence to the safety belt rule also spared him from severe harm. Like Redman and Haller, he was acknowledged by Ohio State Highway Patrol Lieutenant Melanie L. Provenzano, Chillicothe Post Commander, with a signed certificate.
Further, on August 18, Beverly Leeman’s safety belt protected her during a collision on U.S. 50 at State Route 327 in Vinton County. Lieutenant Aaron M. Morgan, Jackson Post Commander, applauded her safety consciousness during a certificate presentation. All the three incidents spotlight the recurrent message from the officials; “Everyone needs to buckle up every trip, every time.”
These events underline the provisional data from 2022, which shows 525 people in Ohio lost their lives in traffic crashes where a safety belt was available but not in use. For current statistics and further information on safety belt usage, the public is urged to visit the Patrol’s Safety Belt Dashboard.
The “Saved by the Belt” Club is a concerted effort between the Ohio Department of Public Safety, the Ohio State Highway Patrol, and more than 400 Ohio law enforcement agencies, intending to honor and thereby promote the lifesaving choice of wearing a safety belt. Each honored individual also received a “Saved by the Belt” license plate bracket as a part of their recognition.
Ohio State officials continue to encourage the public on the indispensable safety measure of buckling up to significantly mitigate the risk of fatal injuries during accidents.