From the Nebraska State Patrol:
One look at her car tells you Cierra Yount is lucky to be here.
The 16 year-old Juniata teen survived a 2011 Christmas Day crash that flattened the roof of her vehicle.
For buckling-up the Nebraska State Patrol, Thursday, March 1, presented Yount with the Agency’s “Seat Belt Survivor” Award.
Just after 2:30 on Sunday, December 25, 2011, Yount was southbound on Showboat Boulevard about a ¼ south of the community of Pauline in Adams County, when the tire of the 1998 Nissan Maxima she was driving dropped off the paved county road.
Yount lost control of the vehicle which rolled into the west ditch. The force of the collision flattened the vehicle’s roof. Yount, who was wearing her seat belt, survived the crash with minor injuries.
“We are pleased to be able to honor Cierra with the agency’s Seat Belt Survivor Award,” said Colonel David Sankey, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “For Cierra, the simple act of fastening her seat belt most likely helped to save her life. We encourage everyone to follow her lead by buckling-up.”
While not every crash is survivable, statistics from the Nebraska Office of highway Safety show seat belts increase your odds of surviving a crash by up to 50%.
The Yount family donated her car to Troop C for a display showcasing the lifesaving results of seat belt usage.
The “Crash Car” display joins the Nebraska State Patrol’s Rollover Simulators and Seat Belt Convincers used to educate the citizens of our state about the importance of seat belts and their effectiveness in saving lives and preventing fatalities.
