Ohio State Highway Patrol honors 17 crash survivors

The Ohio State Highway Patrol, in collaboration with the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department, AAA, Vision Zero, and the Toledo Mud Hens, hosted the fourth annual “Buckle Up – Batter Up ‘Saved by the Belt’” event at Fifth Third Field.

The initiative recognized 17 crash survivors in northwest Ohio whose lives were saved by wearing seat belts during various accidents. Honorees received certificates signed by Ohio Department of Public Safety Director Benjamin Suver and Colonel Charles A. Jones, along with special license plates.

During the event, survivors Maddox Treece and Jordan Grosjean shared personal accounts of their crashes to emphasize the importance of seat belt usage. Officials, including Lieutenant Colonel Joshua Swindell and State Representative Michele Grim, also delivered remarks on traffic safety. The program aims to use a community baseball setting to highlight how seat belts prevent serious injury and death.