A Havre man recently received the Saved by the Belt Award for surviving a crash that rolled and totaled his pickup.
Tim Zerger was wearing his seat belt when his pickup was hit with enough force at a Havre intersection to flip it over, according to the Safe Kids/Safe Communities Coalition.
Zerger was nominated for the Saved by the Belt Award by Havre police officer Nick Ost.
“Many residents think that wearing a safety belt isn't important in town,” said LuAnn McLain, coordinator of the local Safe Kids/Safe Communities Coalition. “This is evidence that serious crashes happen even at low speeds. We want everyone to buckle up. Our coalition has joined the Montana Department of Transportation to especially remind pickup drivers and SUV drivers to buckle up.”
The award is a cooperative effort of the Safe Kids Project of Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies, MDT, the Montana Department of Justice and the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services. It recognizes people who avoided serious or fatal injuries in a vehicle crash because they were wearing a seat belt.
In addition to a certificate of award, Zerger is recipient of a year's membership in AAA Mountain West courtesy of AAA, a Saved By the Belt Award pin, and a Havre Area Chamber of Commerce gift certificate.
