UNUSUAL CRASH IN WEEHAWKEN
Photo by RON JEFFERSThe car that crashed down on to Hackensack Plank Rd., Weehawken, can be seen in the background, on its side. Downed power lines then dropped on a parked car causing it to burn until PS arrived to shut the power off, so that North Hudson firefighters could extinguish the flames.
Photo by RON JEFFERSAn out-of-control vehicle crashed and landed on Hackensack Plank Rd., Weehawken, bringing down overhead wires that resulted in a car fire about 200-feet away. The driver was transported to a local hospital to be treated for his injuries, June 10th.
Weehawken. N.J. - On the afternoon of June 10th, an out-of-control Ford Edge came falling from Gregory av., that crashed through concrete, and it landed on a narrow sidewalk below, on Hackensack Plank Rd. The vehicle fell on the driver's side and rested up against a parked auto.
North Hudson Fire Communication Director Joe Isola was passing by on the plank road when the vehicle crashed. He immediately radioed Fire Control for a rescue assignment to the location, near the corner of Shippen Street. The accident was close to a utility pole and some wires had fallen.
Two men in the neighborhood ran to the driver's aid to extricate him from the vehicle, with Director Isola assisting them, and they removed the man to safety, away from the crash. Isola also called for EMS to respond.
As the victim was moved to safety, a parked Ford Fusion, some 200-feet to the south, erupted in flames that was caused by active down power lines that fell from a utility pole along side of this vehicle. Director Isola radioed in that a vehicle was now on fire at the scene.
The driver of the crashed vehicle was treated by Union City EMS personnel and transported to a local hospital, reportedly with serious injuries, but none that were called life-threatening.
North Hudson firefighters stretched two hand lines and monitored the car fire while waiting for a Public Service Electric technician to arrive and shut the power down to the high tension lines. Firefighters conducted a safe distance search to confirm that the parked vehicle did not have any occupants.
A Public Service unit arrived and shut the power down. The accident resulted in local power outages to parts of Weehawken and Union City.
Firefighters then opened up their hose lines and extinguished the fire in the vehicle. The asphalt in the street had melted under the car due to the energized, fallen power lines.
Fire units that responded included: Engine's 4 and 5, Squad 1, Ladder 1, Rescue 1, Safety 1, 1st Battalion Chief Crossan and Deputy Chief Fresse.
No information from the author.