Heroic New Jersey Officers Rescue Driver from Sinking Car

Four police officers on Saturday rescued a trapped motorist from his sinking car in a Camden County river.

The rescue unfolded around 6:30 a.m. in the Cooper River, off Route 130, in Collingswood when borough police Sgt. Ken Jacoby, Sgt. Brian DiCugno, Officer Eric Roseboro and Officer Nick Bruns rushed to a report of a car in the water, authorities said.

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They found the vehicle partially submerged and quickly sinking while the driver was “frantically attempting to pry his way out of the partially open window,” police said.

“It quickly became evident that the male would be unable to free himself from the sinking vehicle,” the department said in a statement.

“Officers quickly grabbed a rope, a personal flotation vest and an expandable baton from a patrol vehicle and entered the water without hesitation to attempt to rescue the trapped male,” police said.

Jacoby went to the vehicle, which was nearly entirely underwater, according to authorities. The driver’s side window was closed, and the airbag and mud prevented the sergeant from seeing inside.

Using his baton, Jacoby smashed the window but was still unable to locate the occupant, police said. DiCugno was next to arrive and the sergeants broke another window, but could not find the trapped driver.

Roseboro joined the two and made a rescue attempt through the driver’s window when the officer managed to grab the driver and pull him out of the window, according to police.

DiCugno and Jacoby helped Roseboro as they managed to get the man’s head above water, where he took a deep breath, authorities said. The driver told responders he was the only person in the vehicle.

The harrowing rescue continued as police said they struggled to get the driver out because he was stuck on something in his car.

First, police used a rope from the shoreline to keep the vehicle from drifting in deeper water, authorities said. Burns went into the water, and the four managed to pull the driver through a window and get him in a personal flotation device.

Collingswood firefighters along with a water rescue team brought the officers and the driver to land, police said.

DiCugno and Jacoby were treated from cuts from breaking the windows, authorities said. The driver escaped the ordeal without serious injuries.

“If it were not for the quick, heroic and lifesaving actions of the Collingswood Police Officers, Sergeant Jacoby, Sergeant DiCugno, Officer Roseboro and Officer Bruns, the outcome of this incident would have surely been gravely different,” Collingswood police said.

“This is yet another example of the proud selfless service we provide the community day in and day out,” the department’s statement said.

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