Huron man joins Ohio’s ‘Saved by the Belt’ club

SANDUSKY – Parker Keynes, of Huron, joined Ohio’s “Saved by the Belt” club Monday.

According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, a safety belt saved Keynes from sustaining life-threatening injuries during a crash on U.S. 6 in Erie County on October 6.

Ohio State Highway Patrol Lieutenant Brett W. Gockstetter, Sandusky Post commander, presented Keynes with a “Saved by the Belt” certificate signed by Ohio Department of Public Safety Director Thomas J. Stickrath and Colonel Richard S. Fambro, Patrol superintendent.

Keynes also received a “Saved by the Belt” license plate bracket.

“Parker is a living testimony to the effectiveness of safety belts,” Lieutenant Gockstetter said. “Everyone needs to buckle up every trip, every time.”

Patrol data from 2020 shows that 487 people in Ohio were killed in traffic crashes where a safety belt was available, but not in use.

The “Saved by the Belt” club is a joint effort by 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 safety belts.