45°
YOU READ IT HERE FIRST: Two Mahwah police officers rescued a 55-year-old Paterson man after his van rolled and caught fire when he swerved to avoid a sedan whose driver pulled out of a northbound Route 17 Valero gas station and cut across three lanes of traffic this morning, authorities said.
“A fire started in the engine compartment of the vehicle and the driver was initially trapped,” Police Chief James Batelli told CLIFFVIEW PILOT after the 9:40 a.m. crash. “But he was removed by Officers Kevin Tielemans and Richard Albro.
“The fire was extinguished by passing motorists and civilians from the gas station.”
The van driver was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern with minor injuries, the chief said.
The sedan driver a 23-year-old man from Monroe, refused medical attention, he said.
No summonses were immediately issued, but an investigation was continuing, Batelli said.
Click here to follow Daily Voice South Passaic and receive free news updates.
