Submitted by Safe Communities of Wood County
Safe Communities of Wood County recently announced that 13 citizens received Saved by the Belt Awards for serious injury crashes in the calendar year 2023.
The Saved by the Belt award recognizes persons involved in serious injury crashes in 2023 where seat belts potentially saved their lives or the risk of more serious harm.
Citizens were nominated by first responders and members of the coalition for the award.
Awardees for 2023 included:
Jeff Galbraith
On May 3, 2023, at 11 a.m., Galbraith was traveling westbound on Rt. 6 when he was hit by a vehicle that came off the I-75 ramp and struck him on the driver’s side. His vehicle overturned and came to rest in the median. Galbraith was transported to a Toledo hospital by Promedica Air Ambulance.
Elizabeth Hamada, Angela Stevens, Brittany and Maxwell Goeltzenleuchter
On July 17, 2023, at 1:50 p.m., Elizabeth Hamada was travelling westbound on Rt. 6 and slowed to make a turn onto Van Tassell Road when she was hit from behind. The impact forced her vehicle into Angela Stevens’ vehicle, which was eastbound on Rt. 6. Hamada was transported by Mercy Life Flight to Mercy Health-St. Vincent Medical Center. Stevens was transported by Promedica Air Ambulance to Toledo Hospital, and Brittany and Maxwell Goeltzenleuchter, who were passengers in Stevens’ vehicle, were transported to Mercy-St. Vincent Medical Center by Bowling Green Fire.
Paul Stuber
On Aug. 3, 2023, at 9:50 a.m., Stuber was eastbound on Cross Creek Road near State Rt. 65 when a car failed to yield from the stop sign on SR 65. Stuber was transported by Mercy Life Flight to Mercy-St. Vincent Medical Center as a result of the crash.
Jay and Anne Deutschman
On Sept. 10, 2023, at 7:33 p.m., the Deutschmans were traveling south on State Rt. 64 near Ovitt Road when a car failed to yield the right of way and struck the driver’s side of their car. They were transported to Mercy-St. Vincent Medical Center by Middleton Township EMS units.
Dave and Vicki Hoehner
On Sept. 13, 2023, at 9:34 a.m., the Hoehners were driving northbound on State Rt. 25 when a vehicle exited a business, and drove into the path of their vehicle, striking them. Vicki was transported to Wood County Hospital by Medic 120.
Linda Black
On Nov. 1, 2023, at 7:50 a.m., Black was traveling north on State Rt. 199 when a vehicle failed to stop on Reitz Road and struck her vehicle. She was transported to Mercy-St. Vincent Medical Center by Perrysburg Township Fire/EMS.
Steve and Jennifer Wilhelm
On New Year’s Eve, 2023 at 11:56 p.m., the Wilhelms were traveling south on State Rt. 235 when a vehicle traveling on Mermill Road failed to stop at a stop sign and struck their vehicle, landing upside down in a ditch. Even with his injuries, Steve freed himself from their vehicle to check on his wife. Jennifer was trapped in the vehicle and had to be extricated by the fire department. Steve was transported by BG Fire to Blanchard Valley Hospital in Findlay, and Jennifer was transported by North Baltimore EMS/Fire to Blanchard Valley Hospital as well.
For more information about Safe Communities of Wood County or Saved by the Belt Awards, please contact Coordinator Sandy Wiechman at 419-372-9353, slwiech@bgsu.edu or trafficsafety@bgsu.edu.
