An Albert Lea man and his daughter were recently honored by the Albert Lea Police Department with the city’s first &uot;Saved by the Belt&uot; award.

Monday, December 20, 1999

An Albert Lea man and his daughter were recently honored by the Albert Lea Police Department with the city’s first &uot;Saved by the Belt&uot; award.

The award recognizes citizens who escape serious injuries from automobile accidents with the use of a safety belt.

&uot;The Tlamka family was given an early Christmas present this year,&uot; said Ben Mortensen Jr., one of the officers who heads up the Safe and Sober campaign at the police department. He added that Tlamka’s decision to buckle up both himself and his daughter saved their lives. &uot;Because of him making that choice, both are survivors today.&uot;

On Aug. 17, Tlamka was involved in a car accident on County Road 46 and Happy Trails Lane. The passenger side of his Honda Passport was struck by another vehicle. Tlamka’s vehicle ended up in the ditch after rolling over twice. If the father and daughter were not secured within the vehicle, either one could have been thrown around inside the Passport or even ejected from the vehicle, Mortensen said.

&uot;They’re evidence that safety belts save lives,&uot; Mortensen said.

Tlamka is grateful that both he and his daughter survived. While he had only minor scraps and bruises, Bree Ann suffered a broken leg. He realizes the outcome would have been far worse if he had not had her in a child seat or if he had not buckled up as well.

Tlamka said he normally uses his seat belt. It’s a habit he picked up after Bree Ann was born.

&uot;After she was born, my wife pounded it in my head that she has to be in a child seat, and I have to be responsible and wear one too,&uot; Tlamka said. &uot;I’m glad I did because I know I would have gone right through the windshield if I didn’t.&uot;

&uot;It’s that kind of commitment that will have rescue workers bring survivors to the hospital, rather than pulling out lifeless bodies,&uot; Mortensen said.

It’s also a commitment to safety that has been passed on to others in the Tlamka family.

&uot;I’ve got a teen-age son who just got his permit, and that’s the first thing he does is put on his seat belt,&uot; Tlamka said.

He added that he’s upset when he sees other parents with children who aren’t secured in the vehicle.

&uot;I was in Austin and I saw some lady driving around with four kids,&uot; who weren’t in child seats, Tlamka said. &uot;I wanted to pull her over and … say here, take a look at some pictures.&uot; Tlamka has many pictures of the mangled vehicle.

But getting children secured in child seats is only half the battle, according to Don Richter, the officer who investigated the accident and nominated Tlamka for the award.

&uot;The child may be installed in the seat properly, but the seat is not properly installed in the car,&uot; Richter said.

Richter nominated the family for the award because they would have been more seriously injured or may have been killed if they had not used seat belts. The nominations are considered at the state level before the award is given.