On March 19 Alliance High students gathered in the PAC for a presentation given by Nebraska State Trooper Chuck Elley. Elley’s presentation was all about wearing seatbelts. He informed AHS students and staff that eighty percent of highway fatalities in the Panhandle are from roll over crashes and that makes roll over crashes the number one killer on Nebraska highways. When people aren’t wearing seatbelts they often get ejected from the car and that is what ultimately kills them. “Most of the people ejected would be here today if they were wearing seatbelts,” Elley said.
Elley commented on how well AHS students responded to his presentation. “People have told be how much they take from my presentations by contacting me afterwards, and that is why I do it,” Elley said. Of course, not everybody listens due to immaturity, but a certain percentage does take it seriously, and it could ultimately save a life. Elley shared a story about a young teenager from Scottsbluff who attended one of Elley’s presentations about wearing seatbelts. A couple days later he ran into a bus, but had his seatbelt on. He walked away from that crash when it could have been life ending without a seatbelt.
Elley’s presentation hit home with many AHS students and staff because of the recent death of Junior Deion Hitchcock, due to a car wreck. Hitchcock’s sudden death was a tragic shock to AHS and left behind a great sense of loss. After his car wreck on Thursday, March 14, AHS art teacher Jill Harris commented on Hitchcock’s art skill and the creativity he displayed in her class. She said,”Deion was always teasing and playing jokes on his 5th period Art III classmates. He was passionate about drawing and walked in the door everyday with a smile. His positive attitude was contageous and is greatly missed.”
Elley said, “Deion’s death is very unfortunate and I feel for his family and friends.” Losing a loved one is never easy and if it can be prevented people should do what they can. Elley shared a couple of wise words with AHS students, “Always buckle up; do it for friends, family, and yourself.” He also said, “Don’t text and drive, stop the temptation by putting your phone on silent and wait till you get to the place your going to look at it.”
Elley is a Nebraska State Trooper out of Scottsbluff, Nebraska. He worked as a traffic trooper and investigator for five years before he got a three-year grant to present his knowledge about safety to all ages of people. “It started as a grant and then mushroomed into a full-time job,” Elley said. He presents to schools, business groups, nursing colleges, and professional people.
Elley does three to five presentations a week about a range of topics. “The three hot topics right now are cyber bullying, drug abuse, and wearing seatbelts,” Elley said. The response from AHS students about Elley’s presentation has been very positive and the staff hopes students take his advice and buckle up for safety.
