New Saved By The Belt Stories

Honoring traffic crash survivors who were buckled up is a positive method for agencies to show their communities that seat belt use is important, and that officers care that motorists obey the law. The Saved by the Belt program gives law enforcement agencies, occupant protection programs and other safety partners the opportunity to spread the word about the importance of seat belt use.

Honoring the Life Saving Choice of 3 Survivors: June 23, 2021 Horrific Collision Crash

Wearing their seat belts saved my officers’ lives. ~Chief Grizzle, Decatur Police Department, a second-generation law enforcement officer, following his father in law enforcement and 2020 Benton County Officer of the Year award recipient.

LOCAL NEWS ARTICLE

Decatur Officers Hurt In Highway 59 Crash

https://www.4029tv.com/article/decatur-officers-hurt-highway-59-crash-gravette/36830970

SAVED BY THE BELT STORIES

Though we were injured and Officer Taylor suffering the worst of it; there’s no doubt in my mind one of the reasons we are alive today is because we were wearing seat belts…-Luke Rouhseland, Officer Decatur Police Department (pictured to the right)

While on our way to serve a warrant we negotiated a turn and our rear end started to slide out beneath us. The driver attempted to regain control, but before he could we struck another vehicle head on. Thankfully, both the drivers and I were wearing seatbelts. If we were not I believe someone would have died. Submitted from Luke Rouhselang, Centerton, AR

I was in my last phase of Field Training when on June 23, 2021 at approximately 10:30 p.m. I was driving north bound on Highway 59 toward S Gravette to serve an arrest warrant. While approaching one of the many curves on highway 59 I started to lose control of my patrol unit, and unfortunately, I over corrected colliding head on into a pick-up truck. Due to the damage of my vehicle I had to be extricated. I was in critical condition and had to be life flighted to Freeman Hospital in Joplin, MO. Had it not been for the use of my seatbelt, I would have died on the side of the highway that night. Submitted from Taylor Chavez Asencio Bruning, Gentry AR (pictured on Left above)

Decatur Police shared these photos of the crash scene from June 23, 2021.

...Decatur Police Chief Stephen Grizzle said Officer Taylor Bruning was driving the cruiser when he lost control and drove into oncoming traffic. Decatur's mayor said the cruiser crashed into a pickup truck. Officer Taylor Bruning was airlifted to the hospital after the collision on HWY 59 outside of Decatur. About Bruning's passenger in the June 23 crash. Other than a broken ankle, Officer Luke Rouhselang also had to get stitches on his arm. According to Arkansas State Police crash report, Officer Bruning and Officer Rouhselang were both wearing seat belts at the time of the crash.

Make The Life Saving Choice Buckle Up Arkansas!

Arkansas State Police - Highway Safety Office

If you have survived a traffic crash in the state of Arkansas because of your choice to buckle up, submit your story here.

Officials said Nate Payne, 17, of Oklahoma was the other driver/survivor involved in the HWY 59 collision. He was expected to be released from the hospital the week of June 28. From Arkansas State Police crash report, Mr. Payne was wearing a seat belt.*

Decatur Police Department (Crashed Vehicle - Officer Taylor's Vest Before & After)

Decatur police chief said two of his officers were hurt in a crash on Highway 59 Wednesday night [June 23, 2021].

The Decatur Police Chief said the officers were driving on Highway 59 to serve a warrant when the crash happened.

Note from AHSO: We acknowledge this is an ongoing story as the three individuals involved in this tragic event recuperate and recover. We wish them the best in their journey to heal. We hope to hear from Officer Taylor a little bit later as he suffered the most serious injuries.

*Sources: https://www.4029tv.com/article/decatur-officers-hurt-highway-59-crash-gravette/36830970

https://katv.com/news/local/two-arkansas-police-officers-hurt-in-two-car-accident-identified

https://www.nwaonline.com/news/2021/may/18/decatur-chief-gets-officer-of-year-award/

Make The Life Saving Choice Buckle Up Arkansas!

Arkansas State Police - Highway Safety Office

If you have survived a traffic crash in the state of Arkansas because of your choice to buckle up, submit your story here.