Watch N.J. Police Officer, Motorist Pull Driver from Burning SUV

April 7, 2025

South Brunswick police are crediting Officer Daniel Stoddard and a good Samaritan with helping rescue an injured driver after whose vehicle caught fire following a two-vehicle crash.

By Jeff Goldman

Source nj.com

A South Brunswick police officer and a passing motorist pulled a driver away from a burning vehicle early Thursday following a crash on Route 1.

Police credited officer Daniel Stoddard and the good Samaritan, Haseeb Mehmood, of Old Bridge, with helping get the injured driver safely away from his SUV.

The injured driver, a 50-year-old from Hamilton in Mercer County, had moments earlier been involved in a two-vehicle crash on Route 1 north in the area of Ridge Road, authorities said.

“The driver had a serious leg injury and was unable to get any further away from the fire,” South Brunswick police chief Raymond Hayducka said. “I want to thank the citizen who stopped for getting involved and making a difference. His actions and Officer Daniel Stoddard ’s prevented further injury to the driver.”

The crash happened around 3:50 a.m. on northbound Route 1 when the vehicles made contact, South Brunswick police said. The impact forced the SUV off the shoulder, and into a tree. The other vehicle came to rest in the right lane of the highway.

Both drivers were hospitalized with injuries. The other driver is a 40-year-old woman.

A local fire department — Kingston Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 — extinguished the SUV fire.

Anyone with information on the crash is asked to call officer Austin Haren at 732-329-4646.

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