On July 13, 2015, Faribault Police Capt. Neal Pederson was heading to work on Lyndale Avenue South going north when his vehicle was struck broadside by a vehicle after the driver failed to yield.

Tuesday afternoon at the Rice County Sheriff's Office, Pederson received a "Saved by the Belt Award" from the Sheriff's Office and Faribault Police Department.

Sheriff Troy Dunn told me after the presentation of the award, standing by a large picture of Pederson's vehicle after that crash, he is convinced, "Neal would have had significant injuries if not killed because the vehicle took significant impact on the driver's side door."

Dunn noted, "If the driver is not wearing their seat belt they are usually thrown to the other side of the vehicle or ejected due to the impact."

I pointed to the airbags and the sheriff says there's no question they also assisted but added, "These cars are engineered to save lives and keep you safe in combination with vehicle occupants wearing their seat belts. Wearing your belt in combination with vehicle airbags increases your survivability and decreases the injuries sustained."

Faribault Police Chief Andy Bohlen also presented the certificate to Pederson and thanked him for being a living example of buckling up saving lives.

Pederson became very emotional during his remarks and told me after the presentation that seeing the blown up picture of his vehicle just hit him, "You start to think of the what ifs. My daughter turned 16 yesterday; my son graduates in a week. If I hadn't been wearing a seat belt, I may not have been here for those things."

Pederson told those gathered for the presentation he's been wearing a seat belt since he was a teen taking driver's training. The 24-year veteran officer said he's been to numerous horrific crashes but being saved in one has given him a unique perspective he can share with those people he pulls over for speeding.

According to Southeast Minnesota Toward Zero Deaths Coalition statistics from 2011 to 2015, five unbelted drivers in Rice County have lost their lives and 13 have sustained serious injuries.

In Steele County, six people have died and six have suffered serious injuries. In Goodhue County, seven people have been killed and 18 suffered serious injuries. In Dodge County, three people lost their lives and five were seriously injured because they were unbelted.

Scott McConkey, Southeast Toward Zero Deaths Enforcement Coordinator, says he was a cop for 33 years and, "Never saw someone die because they were wearing their seat belt but I quit keeping count of how many people would've walked away had they been wearing their seat belt."

Minnesota has had a primary seat belt law since 2009, meaning officers will stop and ticket drivers and passengers for belt violations. A stepped up "Click it or Ticket" campaign is going on throughout Minnesota through June 5 with extra officers specifically looking for unbelted drivers and passengers.

L to R Rice County Sheriff Troy Dunn. Captain Neal Pederson and Faribault Police Chief Andy Bohlen
L to R Rice County Sheriff Troy Dunn. Captain Neal Pederson and Faribault Police Chief Andy Bohlen
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