Twenty-five years ago there was a bad car accident on Baldwin Road. The victim was a young man named Jerry driving a Chevy Chevette.
Jerry was heading home after picking up a few groceries at the corner store near his house and didn’t bother to buckle his seatbelt for the short trip. The vehicle in front of him was a Jeep being towed by a tow truck.
As Jerry approached Waldon Road, the Jeep suddenly became unpinned from the truck. It bounced once when it hit the road and landed directly in front of Jerry’s car, headlight to headlight.
The next thing Jerry remembers is waking up to the smell of gas. He was sitting next to his carborator, hands clutching the bent steering wheel, bleeding from the head.
His noes was broken from smashing the windshield and his knees had gone through the dashboard. But somehow Jerry was OK.
Today, the Orion community knows Jerry as Police Chief Jerry Narsh.
‘I’m the poster boy of what not to do,? Narsh said. ‘I could have easily died.?
The chief wanted to share his story in support of the Saved by the Belt award program.
The state’s Office of Highway Safety Planning and AAA of Michigan teamed up to coordinate the program which recognizes drivers and passengers whose seatbelt or child car seat use saved their lives.
Award recipients receive prizes from the state and can share their survival stories through media releases.
As for Chief Narsh, he says he knew better than driving without wearing a seatbelt. He still suffers back and neck problems from the crash.
‘I have to live with an annoying injury for the rest of my life for one foolish moment,? he said.
‘I know the value of hearing that click.?
For more information on the Saved by the Belt program, or to nominate someone please call 248-693-8321.