Linda Furan is in her third month of recovery from injuries she received after a two-vehicle accident on U.S. Highway 93 in Ronan this spring. Her small car was hit almost head-on by a northbound SUV on April 1 that lost control in the slushy road conditions.

She wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for her seat belt, and last week she received her Saved By the Belt Award from the Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies MT Coalition. The program honors and recognizes individuals involved in crashes that were saved because they were wearing a seat belt, Buckle Up Montana representative Diane Ward said in an e-mail.

Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Chris Hoyt responded to Linda’s accident. He said the driver of the SUV was driving about 65 MPH when she lost control and crashed sideways into Linda. They had to cut the seat belt off of Linda, which is a good sign, Hoyt said, because that means it was fastened. He said it was almost definite that Linda would have received fatal injuries without the seatbelt.

“I had a clear imprint of where the safety belt was. I would have been thrown way out if I hadn’t had that on,” she said at the award ceremony at Mission Valley Power.

She was transported to St. Patrick’s Hospital in Missoula several days after the accident, where she spent 22 days.

Almost a week of that was in the intensive care unit. Her ribs were broken, her lungs were collapsed and her left foot was severely injured. She won’t return to work at MVP until later this fall after more therapy.

Trooper Hoyt nominated Linda for the award, which was the third given out in Lake County this year.

The law enforcement investigating officer determines an individual is eligible and completes a Saved by the Belt Award nominating form that is submitted to state coordinator Patricia Carrell, of Safe Kids Montana, Ward said.

Linda received the Saved by the Belt Award Certificate, a button and free one-year subscription to AAA Mountain West.

She said she usually does wear her seatbelt, and will never forget it after this. The accident has also inspired several MVP coworkers and her husband, Bernie, to wear their seatbelts every time they get in a car.

Due to the dramatic number of fatalities and incapacitating injuries as a result of motor vehicle crashes and non-seat belt use, Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies- MT Coalition, instituted the “Saved by the Belt Award” Program.  This program honors and recognizes individuals involved in crashes that were saved because they were wearing a seat belt.  It is hoped that communities around the state will promote seat belt use by positive reinforcement in the way of awarding “saved” individuals for their good behavior and in turn, encourage others to do the same.  The Law Enforcement investigating officer determines an individual is eligible and completes a Saved by the Belt Award nominating form which is submitted to our State Coordinator- Patricia Carrell- Safe Kids Montana.  There has been three awards given this year in Lake County supported by our local Buckle Up Montana- Lake County Coalition.

This award was given to Linda for using her seat belt at the time of the crash, thereby preventing fatal injuries.

Hoyt presented her with the Saved by the Belt Award along with Diane Ward- Buckle Up Montana-Coalition Coordinator of Lake County.