Athens and Jackson County residents join Ohio’s 'Saved by the Belt' Club

ATHENS – Athens County residents Beth Wilson-Hobbs, James K. Hobbs, and Jackson County resident Michelle Davis joined Ohio’s “Saved by the Belt” Club recently after their safety belts saved them from sustaining life-threatening injuries.

The Hobbs’ were struck head-on by an impaired driver May 1 on S.R. 681 in Athens County, and Davis was involved in an injury crash May 26 on S.R. 32 in Jackson County.

Ohio State Highway Patrol Lieutenants Steven P. Daugherty and Aaron M. Morgan, Athens and Jackson Post commanders, presented them with “Saved by the Belt” certificates signed by Ohio Department of Public Safety Director Andy Wilson and Colonel Charles A. Jones, Patrol superintendent.

“Beth, James, and Michelle are living testimony to the effectiveness of safety belts,” Lieutenant Daugherty said. “Everyone needs to buckle up every trip, every time.”

Data from 2023 shows 472 people in Ohio were killed in traffic crashes where a safety belt was available, but not in use. For up-to-date statistics and information on safety belts, log onto the Patrol’s Safety Belt Dashboard at https://www.safetybeltdashboard.ohio.gov/.

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.

Beth, James, and Michelle also received “Saved by the Belt” license plate brackets.