| id | cleanReleaseDate | troopName | title |
| 1986 | 2013-03-18 | Troop B | “Saved by the Belt” Award Presented to Two Survivors in Horrific I-310 Crash |
TROOP B - NEWS RELEASE March 18, 2013 “Saved by the Belt” Award Presented to Two Survivors in Horrific I-310 Crash On Wednesday, March 20, 2013, Louisiana State Police and the Interim LSU Public Hospital, Level 1 Trauma Center will present the “Saved by the Belt” Award on behalf of the New Orleans Regional Traffic Safety Coalition. The award will be given to the recipients at 12:00 PM at the Regional Transportation Management Center located at 100 Veterans Memorial Boulevard, New Orleans, LA, 70124. On May 6, 2012 at approximately 8:50 AM, Dorothy Compton and her 12 year old son, Patrick Dennies, were traveling on I-310 north at mile post 0.3 in the left lane in a 2010 Ford Mustang. A 2012 Freightliner tractor-trailer was traveling in the right lane and began to merge into the left lane. The tractor-trailer impacted the Mustang causing the Mustang to strike the crash attenuator and both vehicles then slid north on the I-10 west exit ramp. The tractor-trailer then struck the left guardrail causing it to slide to the right and it struck the Mustang a second time. The Mustang came to rest on its right side on the shoulder of the road against the guard rail. Dorothy Compton was trapped inside the vehicle and required immediate extrication using the Jaws of Life. Patrick Dennies was able to unbuckle himself and climb through the rear windshield to escape the vehicle. Both Compton and Dennies were properly restrained during the crash and the simple decision to Buckle Up saved their lives. Although Compton and Dennies will live their lifetime with the injuries they sustained, they are alive because of the use of the seat belt. Motor vehicle crashes are the single greatest cause of death and disability for people ages 1 to 34 and are the leading cause of injury-related deaths among people of all ages. Crashes can happen at any time, on any day and the only chance of surviving a horrific crash is to Buckle Up. **All media outlets are invited to attend the “Saved by the Belt” Presentation** Contact Information: TFC Melissa Matey Louisiana State Police – Troop B Public Affairs Unit Office: (504) 471-2780 Melissa.matey@dps.la.gov www.LSP.org www.facebook.com/LouisianaStatePolice | |||
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