WATCH: North Jersey Cop Nearly Run Down By Flaming Box Truck

SPARTA TWP., N.J. – A Sparta Township Police sergeant was injured while trying to move a patrol car out of the way of a box truck fully engulfed in flames on Route 15 recently, police said.

On Thursday, Jan. 28 at 12:03 p.m., Sparta police were dispatched to the area of mile marker 11 on Route 15 southbound for a report of a truck fire, Lt. John-Paul Beebe said.

Upon arrival, police found the box truck, owned by Gula Snacks LLC of Landing, was disabled on the shoulder with thick black smoke pouring out from the engine compartment, Beebe said. Officers were able to help the driver, Jairo Simbaqueba, 34, and passenger Romero Gonzalo, 57, to a safe area away from the truck.

While the fire intensified officers closed the southbound lanes of Route 15 and the box truck became fully engulfed in flames.

At the same time, the truck began rolling backwards in the direction of two parked patrol cars, as the video shows.

Sgt. Joseph Pensado, 45, a member of the force for 13 years, ran to his patrol car in an attempt to move it out of the way. Before he was able to put the car in gear, the patrol car filled with black smoke. Pensado then quickly exited his vehicle and attempted to run to safety, Beebe said, and he was forced to dive out of the way of the burning truck.

The truck missed the patrol car and veered across the roadway until it hit a guardrail in the left shoulder of the roadway. The Sparta Fire Department responded to the scene and was able to extinguish the flames.

Pensado suffered a severely bruised right shoulder and injured his left knee, Beebe said. He was taken to Newton Medical Center by the Sparta First Aid Squad where he was treated and released several hours later. Pensado is not expected to return to work for several weeks.

The roadway was closed for about two hours as a result of the incident and no other injuries were reported.