Irontonians join Ohio’s ‘Saved by the Belt’ club – The Tribune
- LEFT: On May 27, Michael A. Gleichauf was presented with the Ohio Saved by the Belt certificate by Ironton Post Commanding Officer Lt. Nick Lunsford. Gleichauf survived an accident on April 5 through the use of his vehicle’s seat belt. RIGHT: Maximus Gleichauf received his Ohio Saved by the Belt certificate May 27 from Lt. Nick Lunsford, Commanding Officer of the Ironton Post. Gleichauf survived an accident on April 5 through the use of his vehicle’s seat belt. (Photo submitted)
Two Ironton residents were on the Ohio State Highway Patrol last week, not because they were in trouble, but because their lives were saved by their car seat belts.
Ironton residents Michael A. Gleichauf and Maximus Gleichauf joined Ohio’s “Saved by the Belt” club on March 27 after their seat belts saved them from life-threatening injuries after being involved in an accident on State Route 243 on April 5.
Ohio State Highway Patrol Lt. Nick Lunsford, the commanding officer of the Ironton station, presented them with “saved by the belt” certificates signed by the director of the Ohio Department of Public Safety Thomas J. Stickrath and Col. Richard S. Fambro, OSHP Superintendent. They also received a “belt-saved” license plate holder.
“Michael and Maximus are a living testament to the effectiveness of seat belts,” Lunsford said. “Everyone must buckle up on every trip, every time.”
Preliminary 2021 data shows that 565 people in Ohio were killed in traffic crashes where a seat belt was available, but not used. For up-to-date seat belt statistics and information, log on to the Patrol Seat Belt Dashboard at https://www.safetybeltdashboard.ohio.gov/.
The “Saved by the Belt” club is a joint effort of the Ohio Department of Public Safety and more than 400 Ohio law enforcement agencies. This club is designed to recognize people who have benefited from their decision to wear seat belts.
