NJ Troopers Pull Man From Burning Truck Seconds Before Explosion

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — An intense and heart-pounding video captures two New Jersey State Troopers pulling a man out of a burning tractor-trailer just seconds before it exploded on Monday on Interstate 287 in Bridgewater.

At about 3:35 p.m., Trooper Robert Tarleton was talking with a driver during a traffic stop on I-287 north when a nearby tractor trailer ran off the right side of the road in the express lanes, hitting the guardrail and bridge abutment before becoming engulfed in flames, NJ State Police said.

When Tarleton heard and saw the crash, he gave back the driver’s credentials saying "you're good," before running back to his car to ask for help, his body cam video shows.

Tarleton drove to the crash, got out and sprinted to the burning tractor-trailer yelling "Go! Go! Go! Get out of the car! Get out of the car!" the video shows.

NJ State Police Lt. Edward Ryer, who was on his way home from work when he saw the crash, was already out of his vehicle trying to rescue the driver from the cab when Tarleton arrived, police said.

Ryer and Tarleton pulled the driver from the burning cab, dragging him across the highway to safety, seconds before it exploded, the video shows.

They ask the driver if he is alright before Tarleton says "the fuel tank is going, we got to get back."

The troopers help the driver up before the video ends.

The driver had minor injuries from the crash and was taken to Morristown Medical Center for evaluation. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

The crash had caused I-287 northbound lanes on the express and local sides to close for hours as a result. Delays were also reported along all other nearby roadways as a result.

Watch the NJ State Trooper video below:

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