CLARK COUNTY — Ohio State Highway Patrol recognized two people from Clark County for wearing their seatbelts during a deadly crash earlier this year.
Troopers welcomed Phillip and Emily Whetstone to the “Saved by the Belt” Club on Wednesday for wearing their seatbelts during a nine-car crash, that killed two people.
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OSHP Lieutenant Joseph Gebhart said their seatbelts kept them alive.
The crash happened July 5 in Shelby County. During the crash, the Whetstone’s car overturned.
“Because they made the choice to wear their seatbelt, they are here with us today,” Gebhart said.
Gebhart told News Center 7 that the “Saved by the Belt” Club is a “way of recognizing individuals where there’s a serious crash and [troopers] believe that wearing the seatbelt made a difference.”
It’s something OSHP take seriously. In 2021, nearly 62,000 people have been pulled over by troopers for not wearing their seatbelts. That has been a 44 percent increase from 2020.
Gebhart said almost 600 people were killed in crashes when seatbelts were available, but individuals chose not to wear them.
“It only takes a second and some people initially say ‘they are well uncomfortable,’ or ‘its inconvenient,’ but the reality is it can make a huge difference,” Gebhart said.