<VV> Importance of seat belts, was: Woman killed in Corvair accident

[airvair at earthlink.net]

(Article edited for brevity)

First let me express my sympathies to the family. Also let me say that I
don't mean to distract from the impact (no pun intended) such a tragic
accident will have on them. 

However, this should offer a good lesson for anyone out there who 1)doesn't
wear seat belts, or 2) doesn't have them in their car, regardless of its
vintage. No antique car club that I know of discourages the installation of
seat belts in ANY antique car, no matter what vintage it is. Regardless, so
many antique cars don't have seat belts retrofitted to them. This is a
dangerous situation, as this accident shows that accidents can happen at
any time, and even to the most carefully driven antique car.

Therefore, I think that maybe this is a good opportunity for CORSA as a
club to lead the way in requiring working seat belts for all passengers in
ALL vehicles that are entered in any of its events. I think it would allow
something positive to happen as a result of this tragedy.

-Mark


> [Original Message]
> Subject: Re: <VV> Woman killed in Corvair accident
>
> >From the South Bend Tribune
> Man charged with OWI in fatal Mishawaka crash
> Victim and her husband were on way to classic car show
>
> By JEFF PARROTT 
> Tribune Staff Writer 
>
> Police have arrested a South Bend man on a charge of operating a vehicle
> while intoxicated, causing death, in connection with a fatal crash this
> morning on Lincoln Way East.
>
> Shortly after 7 a.m., Derek Dygulski, 34, of the 4200 block of Irish Hills
> Drive, was driving his Chevy Cobalt west on Lincoln Way, near Oakside
Avenue
> and Twin Branch Elementary School, when he veered across the centerline
and
> struck an eastbound vehicle nearly head-on, said Mishawaka Police Capt.
Tim
> Spencer.
>
> The impact killed Carol Ragsdale, 60, a passenger in the other vehicle, a
> blue 1964 Corvair driven by her husband, Kenneth Ragsdale, 60. The
> Ragsdales, of the 1300 block of Providence Court in the Reverewood
> subdivision, had been on their way to an antique car show in Dowagiac,
> Spencer said.
>
> Neither of the Ragsdales had been wearing seat belts because the Corvair
did
> not have them, Spencer said. Dygulski was wearing a seat belt and his
airbag
> deployed. He complained of chest pain but was treated and released from
the
> hospital before being booked into the St. Joseph County Jail, where he was
> held without bond pending formal charges.
>
> Mr. Ragsdale's most severe injury was a broken femur.
>
> http://tinyurl.com/5gtc8g
>