Tri-Valley Student Honored With ‘Saved by the Belt’ Award

ZANESVILLE, OH–A Tri-Valley High School student was recognized for a decision that saved her life.

Rion Harmon, a junior softball player at Tri-Valley, was involved in a serious car accident months ago. Authorities say if she hadn’t been wearing her seatbelt, she likely wouldn’t be here today. Her story serves as a reminder to buckle up no matter where you’re going.

“You don’t know what’s going to happen, you don’t know if you’re going to get in an accident or someone’s going to hit you. You don’t know what’s going to happen if you’re going 5 minutes, 20 minutes. It doesn’t matter, you should always put your seatbelt on no matter if you’re a passenger or in the back seat or if you’re driving — of course if you’re driving,” Harmon said.

Harmon was honored with the ‘Saved by the Belt’ award—a statewide recognition given to individuals who made the choice to wear a seatbelt. While her road to recovery has not been an easy one, 14 surgeries later, her goal is to get back to the activities she loves on and off the field.

Many were in attendance to show their support. Harmon was joined by her teammates, the baseball team, community members, as well as some of the first responders who were on the scene that day.

“Just a reminder that seat belts save lives and Rion is a proven example of it,” Sgt. Kyle Shirer, assistant commander of the Zanesville OSHP, said. “For her to stand up here and share her story today, it’s going to be a ripple effect amongst the community around here and we’re so proud of her to be able to stand up and do this. Last time I saw her it wasn’t like this, and to see her today, it’s amazing.”

As Harmon continues her recovery, her strength is already inspiring those around her. And while she may not be back on the field just yet, her message is loud and clear — wearing a seatbelt isn’t optional, it’s lifesaving.