(KNOX) – A 17-year-old Mapleton girl is the recipient of the Saved by the Belt Award from the North Dakota Highway Patrol and the North Dakota Safety Council.
Gabriella Vickerman was awarded for avoiding a head-on crash with a DUI driver the night of April 19.
The ND Patrol and Cass County Sheriff’s Office responded to a two vehicle injury crash on Highway 18 about one mile south of Arthur.
A northbound 2023 Chevrolet Silverado driven by 34-year-old Stephen Boyer crossed the centerline of Highway 18 and into the path of a southbound 2012 Ford Focus driven by Vickerman, who was driving distraction free, observed Boyer in her lane of travel, and swerved right to avoid a head-on collision.
Boyer was arrested for Driving Under the Influence after the crash with a Blood Alcohol Content of point two one nine. He pleaded guilty to the DUI charges on May 16.
Vickerman was seat belted during the crash, and her airbags deployed. Because of the angle and severity of the crash, wearing of her seatbelt saved Vickerman from serious injury.
Vickerman said she just did what she always does.
“It’s just something that I always did,” she said. “It’s just, I never thought I just thought it was useless not to.”
The Patrol says wearing a seat belt is the simplest action we all can take when entering a vehicle to keep ourselves safe during a crash.
FOLLOW US FOR INSTANT UPDATES!
