SANDUSKY, OH (MARION COUNTY NOW)—Cedar Point partnered with the Bucyrus District of the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) on Friday to recognize 13 individuals who survived serious-injury traffic crashes because they were wearing their safety belts.
The ceremony, hosted on stage in front of the amusement park’s Giant Wheel, inducted the Ohio residents into the patrol’s “Saved by the Belt” club. Each recipient received a framed certificate and a commemorative license plate, along with return park tickets for themselves and their families provided by Cedar Point.
According to 2026 Patrol statistics, 417 people in Ohio have been killed in traffic crashes where a safety belt was available in the vehicle but not used. The “Saved by the Belt” initiative highlights survivors to raise awareness about seat belt safety statewide.
The 13 honorees recognized during the event include:
- Michael Sulser, 68, of North Robinson
- James Cochran, 56, of Clyde
- Sheila Buurma, 69, of Willard
- Kyle Brown, 29, of Willard
- Luis Valle, 64, of Fremont
- Erin Johnston, 35, of Tiffin
- Corey Johnston, 40, of Tiffin
- Finnegan Johnston, 6, of Tiffin
- Gwendolyn Johnston, 8, of Tiffin
- Yvonne Lutz, 76, of Mansfield
- Chole Bosch, 17, of Mansfield
- Darin Elson, 58, of Marion
- Kathryn Elson, 54, of Marion
“We’re so proud to host the ‘Saved by the Belt’ presentation and celebrate these survivors,” said Colleen Brady, park president of Cedar Point. “‘Always Safe’ is a core value for all of us at Cedar Point, and we’re proud to join the Ohio State Highway Patrol in encouraging guests to embody that value and buckle up every time they travel, whether they’re heading to a day of fun or returning home afterward.”
Both Cedar Point and the State Highway Patrol urge all drivers and passengers to make buckling up a mandatory habit on every trip.