Edison student joins Ohio’s Saved by the Belt club
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RICHMOND -- Members of the Ohio State Highway Patrol stopped by Edison High School on Friday to recognize senior Eva Johnson, but it was on Jan. 3 the Toronto youth was a bigger winner.
It was on that night that Johnson's vehicle veered off a bridge on county Road 53 and into a creek, sustaining extensive damage to the front end.
Johnson recalled a loud pop as the car's air bag was released, causing her ears to ring, but she was able to get out and having no cellular phone service in that area, walk to the nearby home of a friend for help.
Lt. Robert Bodo, commander of the highway patrol's Steubenville post, said wearing a seat belt saved Johnson from serious harm.
He and other troopers with the post and Jefferson County Sheriff's Deputy Joe Fetty, an Edison High School graduate, presented her a certificate declaring her a winner of the patrol's Saved by the Belt award.
They also gave her a Saved by the Belt license plate frame.
"Eva is living testimony to the effectiveness of safety belts. Everyone needs to buckle up every trip, every time," said Bodo.
He noted 2020 data showed 487 people were killed in traffic crashes in which seat belts were available but not used.
Bodo added he's seen hundreds of accidents in which vehicles received tremendous damage but seat belt wearing drivers and passengers weren't seriously harmed.
"It's amazing what they can do for you," he said.
Johnson said her vehicle was a 2015 Camaro given to her as an early graduation present by her father, who has since died following a battle with cancer.
"I felt like he was with me that night," she said.
Johnson said while she was saddened by the loss of the car, she is grateful she has lived to attend graduation with her classmates.
(Scott can be contacted at wscott@heraldstaronline.com.)