Trapped Driver ID'd In Submerged Van Crash At Bridgewater Park

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Two rescuers waded chest-high waters to pull a trapped driver from a van that crashed into the pond at Ardmaer Park in Bridgewater on Wednesday night.

At around 4:19 p.m., Julia P. Gomez of Somerset was driving a gray Toyota Sienna west on Old York Road when the van left the roadway and crashed into the Ardmaer Park pond partially submerging it in the water, Bridgewater Police Lt. Thomas Rice said.

Robert Wood Johnson Mobile Intensive Care Unit (M.I.C.U.) Medics, Michael Calabrese and Ryan Mulhall arrived moments after the crash and waded into chest-high water to pull Gomez from the vehicle, Rice said.

Gomez was taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset for evaluation.

Bradley Gardens Volunteer Fire Company also responded to find the driver had already escaped the submerged van, Fire Chief Pete Chetwynd said.

The van was later removed from the pond by a large crane.

The crash is currently under investigation. Anyone with information regarding the crash
is asked to contact Officer Adam Alosi at 908-722-4111 ext. 4129.

Bradley Gardens Volunteer Fire Company is entirely volunteer-run. If interested in volunteering message the fire company's Facebook page at facebook.com/bgvfc21 or call 908-725-1250.

Have a news tip? Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com.

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