Firefighters Cut Open Car To Rescue Driver Trapped By Fallen Tree In Hunterdon County

ALEXANDRIA, NJ — Volunteer firefighters rescued a driver after a tree fell on a car, trapping them inside, during a driving rainstorm in Hunterdon County.

Shortly after 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Quakertown NJ Fire Company-91 Fire/Rescue as well as EMS from Frenchtown and Kingwood were called to Route 579 and Cooks Cross Road in Alexandria Township for a car that had a tree fall on it with a patient trapped and injured, said the volunteer fire department.

Emergency responders immediately began patient care and vehicle extrication using the hydraulic rescue tools.

"The crews stabilized the car, removed the side, flapped the roof, cut the steering wheel, and removed the patient in less than 9 minutes," said the fire department.

A medical helicopter request was denied due to weather conditions, so paramedics took the victim by ground to St Luke’s Hospital.

The fire company also thanked an off-duty South Branch EMT who stopped, secured the vehicle into park, and helped in patient care until the driver was removed in a driving rainstorm.

The New Jersey State Police are investigating the accident and helped at the scene.