Country singer Mickey Gilley is the new face of a campaign aiming to keep Tennessee residents safe while in a motor vehicle.
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Earlier this month, the 81-year-old was injured when his vehicle rolled over three times off the highway. After surviving the wreck with a few injuries, Gilley has decided to try and help save other lives by teaming up with the Tennessee Highway Safety Office.
The office has launched a new campaign that uses Gilley's story of survival to encourage Tennessee drivers to always buckle their seatbelts while in a car.
"Had I not been wearing my seatbelt, I'm sure I would've been ejected," Gilley said in a statement. "My car rolled about three times over. I want to share my story with Tennesseans to encourage everyone in the South to take pride in wearing seatbelts, because seatbelts do save lives."
Shortly after news of his injuries initially broke, Gilley took to Facebook to share an update.
"I have a fractured left ankle and a fractured right shoulder," Gilley wrote. "I am having a hard time walking because I have a big boot on my left leg. But other than that I'm doing pretty good. To be 81 years old and put myself through what I've been through it's kinda tough sometimes on the old man but I don't intend to retire. I will be out there on the road and I'll see you real soon."
