Mineral County Buckle Up Coatlition announces saved by the belt awards

SUPERIOR, Mont., (May 29, 2013) – The Mineral County Buckle Up Montana Coalition is pleased to award two area women with Saved by the Belt Awards for their life-saving use of seat belts in collisions earlier this year. The women will be presented with the awards at the Mineral County Car Show on Saturday, June 1st at 1:00pm at The Old School House Rock Car Show in Superior.

Mary-Hannah McGuffey of Superior and Jill Higgins of St. Regis each hit the same patch of black ice separately the morning of February 17, 2013. McGuffey was traveling at a safe speed of approximately 55mph.

When she struck the patch of ice her vehicle slid and as it left the roadway she over-corrected, causing the vehicle to roll 360 degrees, landing on its wheels. Just two minutes later, Higgins hit the same stretch of black ice and was also traveling at a safe speed of approximately 55mph. She left the roadway and over-corrected in the same manner as Mary-Hannah.

Her vehicle rolled 180 degrees, landing on its roof. Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Adam Gane responded to the crash. Trooper Gane reported that “Mary-Hannah and her two passengers were properly wearing their safety belts.

While this rollover was not violent in nature due to the slower speed, the safety belts kept each occupant in their proper place.

This prevented them from being thrown around the passenger compartment and protected them from striking hard objects in the vehicle as well as each other while the vehicle was rolling. It is not uncommon for unrestrained passengers in a rollover crash to sustain fatal blunt force trauma injuries even if they’re not ejected from the vehicle.”

Trooper Gane also reported, “Based on the damage to Jill’s vehicle, it is very likely she would have been fully or partially ejected during the rollover had she not been properly using her safety belt. Many unrestrained passengers in Montana crashes die as a result of blunt force trauma after being partially or fully ejected from the vehicle during the crash. Jill’s safety belt use kept her where she needed to be in order for her vehicle’s safety features to best protect her. What could’ve easily turned in to a tragic event for two families was avoided because Jill and Mary-Hannah insisted that they and their passengers buckle up.”

“The Saved by the Belt Award was developed to honor crash survivors who were wearing their seat belt or properly utilizing child safety seats,” says Mineral County Buckle Up Montana Coalition Coordinator Juli Balenger.

“Both Mary-Hannah and Jill are perfect examples of how even drivers who are doing everything right can be involved in significant crashes. That’s why it’s so important to always wear a seat belt.”

AAA is a valued partner of the Saved by the Belt Award program in conjunction with the Montana Department of Transportation Buckle Up Montana coalitions and Montana law enforcement encouraging all motorists to buckle up every trip, every time!