Teamwork Under Pressure: Multi-Agency Effort Frees Pinned Pedestrian at State and Mercer

Hackensack, NJ — Firefighters executed a rapid, high-stakes extrication Monday evening, deploying heavy-lifting rescue airbags to free a pedestrian pinned underneath a transit bus.

The incident occurred at approximately 6:30 p.m. (1830 hours) on September 8, when emergency units were alerted to a serious collision involving a bus and two pedestrians at the intersection of State Street and Mercer Street in Bergen County. Responding from Fire Headquarters located less than a block away, Deputy 3, Engine 4, and Rescue 1 arrived on scene almost immediately.

First responders found one victim suffering severe injuries with a leg trapped directly beneath the wheel of the bus. Operating with extreme precision and speed, rescue crews deployed a Paratech MaxiForce pneumatic airbag system to lift the massive vehicle while simultaneously stabilizing the chassis with cribbing to prevent catastrophic shifting. The rapid stabilization allowed firefighters to safely extricate the pinned patient within minutes.

The critical rescue was bolstered by immediate assistance from off-duty Hackensack firefighters arriving at headquarters for a union meeting, an on-duty dispatcher arriving for shift work, and officers from the Hackensack Police Department.

Advanced Life Support (ALS) and Basic Life Support (BLS) teams from Hackensack University Medical Center (HUMC) took over intensive patient care on scene alongside NJ Transit personnel, coordinating rapid transport for the injured parties.