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Sedan Packed With 8 Teens Slams Into Pole In Upper Saddle River, Downs Wires, Ignites Fires

UPDATE: A sedan packed with eight teens downed a utility pole in Upper Saddle River, yanking down high-tension wires, igniting two fires and knocking out power to some local customers, authorities said.

Aftermath of the crash in Upper Saddle River.

Aftermath of the crash in Upper Saddle River.

Photo Credit: Jerry DeMarco

No life-threatening injuries were reported after the 2017 Honda Accord struck the pole on Lake Street near Danebury Downs shortly after 3 p.m. Sunday, March 19, Police Lt. Donald Hausch said.

A girl in the car suffered a broken leg, however.

Good Samaritan passersby rushed to help the injured.

"I was there holding gashes closed while waiting for PD, FD and EMS to get through the down lines," one for them Daily Voice . "My fiancé was holding the girl's femur in place in the backseat."

Four ambulances in all responded to take the girl and three other injured occupants to the hospital, Hausch said. Responders agreed that all of the occupants were lucky it wasn't far worse.

The driver, 17, is from Wyckoff and his passengers -- ages 15 to 17 -- are from various area towns, he said. 

Standard seating in a 2017 Honda Accord is five (5). That means at least three occupants weren't wearing seat belts.

"They acknowledged they were not wearing seatbelts and sitting on one another in the backseat," the Good Samaritan said.

"The brush fire spread like wildfire once the wires hit the dry leaves," she added.

The transformer of the fallen pole ignited a brush fire near the scene of the crash, while a downed wire burned a hole in the road about 400 feet away. Borough firefighters handled the blazes.

Lake Street remained closed until 6 a.m. Monday while a PSE&G crew did repairs.

An investigation was continuing, with summonses expected for the driver at the very least.

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