Bridgewater Cop Honored For Heroic Actions, Saving Man From Burning Car

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Bridgewater Officer Noah Allatt was honored by the Township with three commendations and a special video for rescuing an unconscious man who was trapped inside his burning car following a crash with a tanker truck on Route 22 on March 4.

"I've been a longtime first responder, as many of you may know, and it comforts me to know that we have folks like him out there looking out for our community," said Councilman Timothy Ring at the March 20 Council meeting.

Allatt was honored with the Mayor’s Award for Exceptional Public Service (which Allatt is the inaugural recipient), a proclamation from the Town Council, and the award of Valor from the Bridgewater Police Department.

"I tell you, it was always one of my fears when I was on the road is a car catching on fire and people in there and I couldn’t help them. That was always my biggest fear," said Police Chief John Mitzak. "So to make that split-second decision with that right in front of him, he didn’t know if that car could have blown up, that the tanker could have blown up, but to make that approach to do that, that was heroic."

Council President Howard Norgalis also commended Allatt's quick-thinking actions.

"As a volunteer fireman myself for many years, I’ve approached many car fires and I always have a heavy jacket, a helmet, gloves, boots, and preferably a hose, and for this Officer to approach that with his uniform... We are proud of you," said Norgalis.

See below for the video by Bridgewater Township honoring Allatt:

Additionally, at the March 20 meeting, the Council honored all first responders who helped with the rescue.

"An individual had to be removed from a car and still had to be treated and a fire put out so we would be remiss tonight if we didn’t at least acknowledge and thank the emergency service organizations that responded that night," said Ring.

Ring acknowledged the efforts by Allatt's fellow police officers along with Martinsville Fire Department, the Green Knoll Rescue Squad, Martinsville Rescue Squad, Finderne Fire Department, Green Knoll Fire Department, as well as paramedics from Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital as well as Somerset County Fire and EMS Coordinators from the Office of the Emergency Management.

The Rescue

On March 5 at 2:11 a.m., a crash was reported on Route 22 West, near the Thompson Avenue exit ramp. Read More: Cop Rescues Unconscious, Trapped Driver Inside Burning Car On Route 22: Body Cam Video

A preliminary investigation found that Zachary J. Roslin, 33, of Freehold, who was driving a 2007 Freightliner towing a tanker trailer, left the Speedway gas station at 1620 Route 22 West and merged onto the highway, said Bridgewater Police Sgt. Daniel Hennessey.

Peter J. Della-Ventura, 44, of North Plainfield, was driving a Hyundai Elantra in the right lane of Route 22 West.

"While both vehicles were in the right lane, the front of Della-Ventura’s vehicle hit the back of Roslin’s tanker truck," said Hennessey.

After the crash, the vehicles fused, became engulfed in flames, and continued to travel forward for around 685 feet while stuck together and on fire.

Roslin then came to a stop on the shoulder.

Bridgewater Police Officer Noah Allatt was on patrol near the crash scene and arrived and saw a passenger, Moosade Z. Harris, 26, of Plainfield, on the ground and called Roslin over, according to video.

In the video, Allatt can be heard speaking with Roslin, asking if there is anything in the tanker truck.

"Nothing; it's empty right now, but there was a diesel kerosene mix in it last night," said Roslin in the video.

"Can I go up to it?" asks Allatt.

"You can go up to it. I just don't know if its going to be..." said Roslin.

Before Roslin can finish, Allatt is seen running toward the car fire. He looks in the passenger side and finds Della-Ventura unconscious and trapped inside the burning vehicle.

Allatt then runs around to the driver's side and pulls Della-Ventura from the burning car.

Della-Ventura and his passenger were taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

Martinsville Volunteer Fire Department worked to extinguish the fire, although water supply issues were a concern. Both sides of Route 22 were closed while firefighters worked to put out the fire. The highway has since been reopened.

"The fire was brought under control in 45 minutes, but fire units remained on scene until 4:30 a.m.," said the fire department.

Bridgewater Police video of the rescue below:

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