‘Seat belts save lives’: Four Nebraskans killed in crashes this week weren’t buckled up

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Authorities are reminding everyone of the importance of seat belts after a Hickman man was killed Thursday morning in a rollover crash.

Chief Deputy Ben Houchin with the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office said the victim did not have a seat belt on.

Houchin said the man had buckled his seat belt underneath him to keep the vehicle’s seat belt alarm from going off.

“We tell people all the time, those seat belts save lives,” he said. “And I can’t say he would’ve survived 100%, but I do know his odds would’ve been much greater had he been wearing it.”

That was just one of several recent fatal crashes in which victims were not wearing seat belts.

On Monday, a 50-year-old man from Fairbury died after rolling into a ditch without a seat belt on.

Then on Tuesday morning, two Nebraska men were killed in a crash southeast of Kearney. Officials said the crash involved two vehicles, and neither driver was buckled up.

John Lefler, executive director of the Nebraska Safety Council, said a seat belt saved his life several years ago.

He said he was heading back from Kansas City, going about 70 mph, when he hit a deer.

“Just out of nowhere, a deer came, jumped up and ran across the highway, and I slammed right into it,” Lefler said. “I did have my seat belt on, and I’m convinced that’s why I wasn’t more severely injured or died in that crash.”

Lefler had a minor concussion but was otherwise fine. He said it was a reminder of how seat belts keep us safe.

“I think it changes your perspective when you’ve actually gone through an experience like that,” he said.

In 2020, about 1 in 5 Nebraskans reported not using a seat belt while driving, according to the council.

In Nebraska, it’s only a secondary offense to not wear your seat belt, so you have to be pulled over for something else first to be ticketed.

But Lefler said wearing one can increase the chances of survival by over 40%.