FARGO (KFGO) – A North Dakota family shares their story of how buckling up saved their lives during an icy rollover crash on Christmas Eve.
Wednesday’s Saved by the Belt Ceremony was presented by North Dakota Highway Patrol Bismarck Sgt. Jeremy Ross, who responded to the scene.
Donald and Tanya Bitzan and their five children were traveling near Tappen, N.D., when they hit an icy patch on the road, causing their van to roll over and land upside down. Because the family took the time to buckle everyone in the vehicle correctly, the children, Tanya, and her unborn child were unharmed. Donald received only minor injuries.
“Because of the craziness of the crash…rolling so many times, it was amazing to find the kids were all fine. Scared. Scared and hanging from the ceiling, but fine,” Tanya said. “The seatbelts kept them safe, just like they were supposed to.”
The Bitzans want to share this story to let others know that choosing the right restraint based on the child’s age and size and making sure to install them correctly is worth the effort. It’s important to do this before every trip because more than half of serious crashes happen within 25 miles of home.
In 2023, almost three out of four car seats checked by certified child passenger safety technicians in North Dakota were misused. Common mistakes include not securing a child in a car seat properly and not installing car seats and boosters in vehicles correctly. When used right, child restraints reduce serious injury and save lives.
To raise awareness about the importance of child restraints, the family participated in a public service announcement and shared a longer version of their story. Both are available on the HHS Child Passenger Safety and Vision Zero websites.
There are about 300 certified technicians in the state serving both rural and urban areas. These technicians can help caregivers choose the correct child restraint for their child’s age and size. They can also check to see if a seat is certified for safety, installed in the vehicle correctly, and if the child is secured correctly in the seat. These services are offered statewide.
To find help near you, visit hhs.nd.gov/childpassengersafety/help. If you are unable to locate help, call the HHS North Dakota Child Passenger Safety program for assistance at (701) 328-4533, 711(TTY).
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