Watch N.J. Police Officers Pull Driver Out of SUV Engulfed in Flames

Nov. 11, 2024

Two Mahwah police officers braved heavy flames to rescue an SUV's driver after he crashed into the side of a tractor-trailer on the shoulder of Interstate 287.

Joe Vince

Body camera footage captured New Jersey police officers saving a driver whose SUV became engulfed in flames after crashing into a tractor-trailer last month.

The crash happened early Oct. 19 when an SUV slammed into a big rig that was on the shouylder of Interstate 287 in Mahwah, WNYW-TV reports. When Officer Chris Lupo and Lt. Mike Blondin reached the scene, they jumped into action and pulled the unresponsive driver from the burning wreckage.

The driver was rushed to the hospital, where he was treated. He was released by the end of the month.

"Every man and woman in this profession has the goal to save lives and make a community better,” Lupo told WNYW. “And I think it’s just a testament to what we all signed up to do, and I don’t think anyone would hesitate to do it again.”

About the Author

Joe Vince

Joining Endeavor Business Media in 2018, Joe has worked on the company's city services publications. He began working at OFFICER.com as the assistant editor. Before starting at Endeavor, Joe had worked for a variety of print and online news outlets, including the Indianapolis Star, the South Bend Tribune, Reddit and Patch.com.