Crime & Safety
Woodbridge Officer Rescues Driver From Fiery New Haven Crash: Police
It was 1:30 a.m. Thursday when officer Matthew Lima, patrolling lower Amity Road, heard skidding, and a loud crash. He didn't hesitate.
NEW HAVEN, CT — Woodbridge officer Matthew Lima was on patrol at 1:40 a.m. Thursday on Amity Road near the New Haven line when he heard a car "skidding, followed by a loud crash," police said. Lima found the crash scene on Amity Road near Fowler Street in New Haven and ran to get the "seriously injured driver," out of the vehicle before it burst into flames.
Woodbridge Police Chief Frank Cappiello praised Lima for his quick and professionalism actions in rescuing the man from the car.
The driver, a 26-year-old Bridgeport man, was taken to Yale New Haven Hospital, where New Haven police spokesperson Scott Shumway said he was being treated for life-threatening injuries.
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“It is only because of Officer Lima’s alertness and swift actions that the operator’s injuries were not far worse,” Cappiello said.
New Haven firefighters extinguished the vehicle fire. The New Haven Police Department’s Crash Team is investigating.
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