Ashland Police Department

On November 2, 2010 the Ashland Police Department presented Ms. Shanna Penley with the Virginia Saved by the Belt Award. Ms. Penley was involved in a serious crash on January 3, 2010 in the Town of Ashland. The impact caused the air bags in her vehicle to deploy. Ms.Penley was wearing her seat belt and did not receive any injuries as a result of the crash.

The Ashland Police Department along with the Virginia Highway Safety Office would like to publicly recognized Ms. Penley for wearing her seat belt.

The Ashland Police Department would like to continue to encourage all drivers and occupants to buckle up as it could save your life.

Chesterfield County Police Department

On November 9, 2010, Frank Kowaleski and Mary Ann Rayment from the Virginia Highway Safety Office and Chesterfield County Police Chief Thierry Dupuis presented Mr. Michael Thompson with the Saved by the Belt Award.

On the evening of July 20, 2010, Mr. Thompson was hit head-on by a drunk driver while traveling on Iron Bridge Road in Chesterfield. But because Mr. Thompson was wearing his seat belt and driving a 2-week-old Toyota Tundra Pickup with advanced safety features, he survived the crash.

The impaired driver of the other vehicle bailed after the crash and ran away on foot, but was caught hiding under a pile of leaves by a police K9.

Chesapeake Police Department

On February 14, 2011, Frank Kowaleski and Mary Ann Rayment from the Virginia Highway Safety Office and Chesapeake Police Chief Kelvin Wright presented a citizen and one of their own officers with Saved by the Belt Awards.

Ms. Norine Sasser of Chesapeake was struck head-on by another vehicle when that vehicle skidded and lost control on the ice. Thanks to proper use of safety restraints, Ms. Sasser and her two children – both in child passenger safety seats – were not injured.

Officer Sarah Peedin was traveling at approximately 50 mph on I-264 during a rainstorm when her police vehicle hit a large patch of water, causing it to hydroplane and spin in a counter-clockwise motion. While trying to correct the spin, Officer Preedin's vehicle flipped over and landed on it’s roof. Fortuntely, Officer Preeden was wearing her seat belt and, following treatment at a Patient First center, returned to full duty immediately.

Hanover County Sheriff's Office

On February 9, 2011, Frank Kowaleski and Mary Ann Rayment from the Virginia Highway Safety Office and Sheriff Dave Hines from the Hanover County Sheriff's Office presented two Saved by the Belt Awards:

On April 27, 2010, Mr. Timothy Mores of Hanover was struck head-on by a violator who crossed a double solid line on Route 33 in the county. Mr. Mores sustained serious injuries but no doubt would have died had he not been belted.

On May 20, 2010, Ms. Patricia Wilson of Beaverdam was traveling along Washington Highway (Route 1) in the county when her vehicle was struck in the side and pushed into the path of another vehicle before finally coming to rest in a ditch on the side of the road. Ms. Wilson also sustained injuries in her crash, but was saved by her seat belt.

Harrisonburg Police Department

On November 23, 2010 at a Harrisonburg city council meeting, the stories of three car accidents in which people's lives were saved by their seat belts were told.

One of the stories was about Ms. Rhonda Cooper who was in an accident with her two children in May 2010. She says, looking at the car, it was clear that the seat belts made a big difference.

"They didn't have to explain it. I think that we knew without an explanation. The front end of the car was gone," says Cooper.