Unless the Jeep broke apart from an impact, they weren’t. I resent the law forcing me to use the shoulder harness and lap belt, but having witnessed a few serious accidents and having been involved in one personally, I don’t take the car out of Park without using them. Things happen so fast, the force is something you don’t understand until you’ve been there. I recall the odd thoughts going through my mind during the whole slow motion thing, thinking how soft cars are, like crumpling a beer can. I walked away with a chipped tooth, a cracked sternum and felt as if I’d been beaten with a baseball bat for over a week, very sore.
The jeep was intact; they simply sailed out of it.
I’m such a nerd I’ve always worn my belt (I didn’t really start driving until I was already 21); when I was younger a friend worked at a tow yard where they brought in all kinds of wrecks, and it had an impact on me. I’ve been in jeeps with no top or doors on, and for the life of me couldn’t imagine why someone wouldn’t wear a belt especially in a jeep.