Seatbelt credited for saving life
RCMP say driver survived rollover likely because he was buckled up
Paul Bickford
Northern News Services
Published Monday, July 28, 2014
ENTERPRISE
The driver of a car that rolled over just south of Enterprise on July 22 escaped with non-life-threatening injuries.
Hay River firefighters respond to accident near Escarpment Creek, south of Enterprise on July 22. - photo courtesy of RCMP |
Police are crediting the 47-year-old man's seatbelt for saving his life.
It was a very serious accident, said Const. Yannick Gagnon of the Hay River RCMP detachment. "And due to the fact the driver was wearing his seatbelt properly, his life was saved."
The RCMP's G Division is also taking the opportunity to remind the motoring public that it is important to wear seatbelts.
"Thousands of lives have been saved and even more injuries have been prevented," said Sgt. Barry Ledoux, the media relations officer with G Division.
The single-vehicle accident occurred at about 5:15 p.m. on July 22 near Escarpment Creek, about six kilometres south of Enterprise on Highway 1.
The single occupant was injured and trapped inside the vehicle.
Members of the Hay River RCMP detachment responded to the scene along with rescue personnel from the Hay River Fire Department.
At the scene, the firefighters had to use the Jaws of Life to extract the occupant from the vehicle.
The man was taken to the H.H. Williams Memorial Hospital in Hay River with non-life threatening injuries.
The vehicle was so damaged that the model was difficult to determine based on photos of the accident scene released by the RCMP.
The cause of the accident had not been ascertained as of July 24.
"At this time, we haven't fully determined that," said Ledoux, who added an investigation is ongoing and there has also been no determination as to whether charges will be laid.
As of July 24, the RCMP had not named the home community of the injured driver.
