Bridgewater Defends $15K Hazmat Bill After Fiery Crash Rescue

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Bridgewater Township is defending its decision to send a more than $15,000 bill to a man who was rescued from a fiery crash last year.

"The narrative surrounding this standard hazmat reimbursement request is at great variance with reality. It is common to seek cost recovery from at-fault parties for significant industrial-type spills, which is clearly the case here," according to a statement released by Bridgewater Township on Tuesday.

The bill came to light after Angela Della-Ventura of Watchung spoke to the Township Council on March 5 about the bill her son, Peter, received following his crash one year prior on March 5, 2025.

Della-Ventura read a letter asking the council to work with Peter to reduce the reimbursement amount or come up with another solution.

• Related: Man Rescued In Fiery Crash, Now Faces $15K Bill From Bridgewater

Peter Della-Ventura was rescued by Bridgewater Police Officer Noah Allatt after he became unconscious and trapped inside his burning car following a crash with a tanker truck on Route 22 West.

The Township noted the personal risk Allatt took in responding to this accident and that 13 other police officers also helped.

"In addition, 36 volunteers from five different fire and rescue companies expended over 75 manhours answering this complicated and dangerous call. These first responders deployed 15 distinct response vehicles as well as the associated materiel necessary to remediate an incident of this magnitude," according to the Township.

The Township stated it is seeking reimbursement primarily from Della-Ventura's insurance company, "as is typical for significant accidents involving the cleanup and removal of hazardous substances. These sorts of accidents represent a very small minority of traffic calls in any municipality."

Additionally, the Township addressed statements made by former Councilman Filipe Pedroso at the March 5 meeting regarding the ordinance for Reimbursement for Cleanup of Discharges.

In the ordinance, it notes that anyone responsible for any fire, leak or spill of hazardous substance who fails to reimburse the Township shall be subject to a fine of not less than $50 nor more than $100 per day or by imprisonment for a period of not more than six months, or both.

"The provision of this ordinance allows people to be placed in jail for not paying this money back in time. This ordinance in this township allows that. You have the power if you feel it's unfair. You have the power to change it," said Pedroso at the Match 5 meeting. "Who here wants to see Peter be placed in jail? Nobody does. But the ordinance shouldn't state that then. Let's take that out. Let's clean that up."

In the Township's statement released on Tuesday, it said that "The idea that an individual can be incarcerated for failure to pay a reimbursement under this ordinance is a gross, dangerous exaggeration."

"It has been raised by a former elected official who has used this incident to cynically and shamefully bolster his own public profile at the expense of our first responders, our taxpayers, and the individuals who were involved in this significant accident," stated the Township.

The Township noted that ordinances across all 564 New Jersey's municipalities have penalty provisions that include incarceration, "but these penalties are very rarely exercised."

Bridgewater Police Chief John Mitzak said at the March 5 meeting that incarceration will not be pursued in this matter.

"To be clear, this individual has already admitted to being at fault for causing this accident - placing the lives of everyone on the road that day at risk, including our police officers who had to respond," stated the Township. "He incurred $15,000 in expenses because of careless behavior which he has already admitted to in municipal court."

Mitzak previously stated at the March 5 meeting that, "Without getting into the case, he caused the crash. And that's all I can say. He was at fault for the crash, and that's why he was issued the ordinance violation."

Bridgewater's Office of Emergency Management is continuing to engage with Della-Ventura's insurance provider to seek reimbursement for the efforts of the first responders who answered the call.

"The Township is confident that the matter will be resolved amicably between the parties and the outstanding reimbursement request will be discharged," according to the Township.

Previous Reporting:

• Man Rescued In Fiery Crash, Now Faces $15K Bill From Bridgewater
• Cop Rescues Unconscious, Trapped Driver Inside Burning Car On Route 22: Body Cam Video
• Bridgewater Cop Who Rescued Unconscious Driver From Burning Car Honored Nationally
• Bridgewater Cop Honored For Heroic Actions, Saving Man From Burning Car

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